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Josh Ball

Zhou Guanyu finished ninth at the Spanish Grand Prix on Sunday and said his experience in Barcelona had been some of his best days in Formula One.
The Chinese driver picked up two valuable points for Alfa Romeo in a race that world champion Max Verstappen dominated from start to finish.
Verstappen’s triumph stretched his lead at the top of the drivers’ championship to 53 points and maintained Red Bull’s 100 per cent record, giving the team its seventh win in as many races.
Seven-times world champion Lewis Hamilton was second for Mercedes, but 24.09 seconds behind, with teammate George Russell completing the podium on a cloudy but dry afternoon at Barcelona’s Circuit de Catalunya.

Red Bull’s Sergio Perez, Verstappen’s closest rival in a season that looks sure to crown the dominant Dutch 25-year-old for a third time, finished fourth after fighting back from 11th at the start.
In a race with no flags, on-track incidents or retirements, Zhou crossed the finish line in 10th, but was immediately promoted to ninth after Yuki Tsunoda was handed a five-second penalty for pushing the Chinese driver off the track. That lifted Pierre Gasly into 10th.
“I really enjoyed today, it was a well-executed race from my side,” Zhou said. “I think these have been some of the best days for me in Formula One, in terms of performance.
“I had a good first lap, and that was crucial to give us the opportunity to get something out of this race. Our pace was strong, although there were times in which we had to manage our tyres wisely.
“I knew I had to keep the pressure on the others to bring home a result and, when the opportunity was there, I tried to force them to make a mistake. At the end, I knew I had the pace to take Yuki, I had DRS, I was half a car ahead going into the corner, but I wasn’t given any space and didn’t have any other choice than to take the escape route to avoid contact.
“In the end, things worked out well and we were able to bring home two points, which was a good result.”
Verstappen’s victory was his fifth of the season, third in a row, third in Spain and the double world champion’s 40th in Formula One.
There was also a bonus point for the fastest lap to cap a day of domination for the man who took the first grand prix win of his career at the Spanish circuit in 2016 and also triumphed last year.
How Formula 1’s Zhou Guanyu is helping to accelerate rise of Chinese motorsport
“It’s a big pleasure to drive with a car like this. I think it showed again today,” said Verstappen, who fended off Ferrari’s home hero Carlos Sainz at the start in the only challenge of an otherwise straightforward afternoon.
“I had the harder compound, so I knew the start would be a bit tricky. Going around the outside at Turn One is always quite difficult, but luckily nothing happened.”

Sainz finished fifth, and said it was the best he could do, with the Aston Martins of Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso sixth and seventh.
Alonso was 10th after his final stop but made a charge back up the order before settling in behind Stroll and assuring the Canadian he was no threat.
“I damaged one floor yesterday already – I didn’t want to damage another one today,” said the Spaniard, who had finished five of the previous six races on the podium.
“I didn’t want that he damaged a floor either, by defending. For us it was the same, sixth and seventh, same points so bringing it home seemed the right choice.”


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Formula One (F1)

Spanish Grand Prix: Zhou Guanyu hails ‘best days in Formula One’ after finishing 9th in Barcelona

China’s Zhou Guanyu on his way to two points for Alfa Romeo at the Spanish Grand Prix on Sunday. Photo: Xinhua

Zhou Guanyu of Alfa Romeo said he was pleased with his weekend efforts in Barcelona. Photo: dpa

Max Verstappen’s victory continued a dominant season for the Dutchman and his team Red Bull. Photo: Xinhua

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Alfa Romeo’s Zhou Guanyu leaves the pits during practice for the Miami Grand Prix. Photo: USA Today Sports

Williams’ Alex Albon, who represents Thailand, is one of three Asian drivers in Formula One for the 2023 season, alongside China’s Zhou Guanyu at Alfa Romeo and Japan’s Yuki Tsunoda of Alpha Tauri. Photo: AFP

Formula One looks to unlock new riches with China’s rising star, hopes Zhou Guanyu can be sport’s answer to Yao Ming

Alfa Romeo driver Zhou Guanyu speaks during a press conference ahead of this weekend’s Miami Grand Prix. Photo: AP

Zhou Guanyu steers his Alfa Romeo around the Baku street circuit during the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Photo: AP

Lewis Hamilton fans get excited before the Shanghai Grand Prix on April 15, 2018. Photo: Getty Images

Fernando Alonso celebrates coming third for Ferrari in the 2014 Shanghai Grand Prix. Photo: EPA-EFE

Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (right) shows Alfa Romeo drivers Zhou Guanyu and Valtteri Bottas how to throw an American football. Photo: AP

Sport

Motorsport

Chinese driver bags two points for Alfa Romeo at the city’s Circuit de Catalunya
Red Bull’s domination of the sport continues, with Max Verstappen winning for a fifth time this season


Chinese driver bags two points for Alfa Romeo at the city’s Circuit de Catalunya, as Max Verstappen and Red Bull continue their dominance of the sport.


100 Top Tables 2022

Spanish Grand Prix: Zhou Guanyu hails ‘best days in Formula One’ after finishing 9th in Barcelona

.css-1mniedq{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;}Chinese driver bags two points for Alfa Romeo at the city’s Circuit de Catalunya Red Bull’s domination of the sport continues, with Max Verstappen winning for a fifth time this season

Chinese driver bags two points for Alfa Romeo at the city’s Circuit de Catalunya

Red Bull’s domination of the sport continues, with Max Verstappen winning for a fifth time this season