Twenty-two-year-old Chou Kuan-yu will be the first Chinese to compete in Formula 1 from next season. The crew’s management announced the cockpit occupation on Tuesday.
Next year, the Chinese Chou Kuan-yü will sit in the cockpit of the Alfa Romeo stable – illustration photo.
Eduardo Verdugo, CTK / AP
The Chinese driver is currently a test driver for the Alpine team and is racing in Formula 2. In the series, two parts before the end of the season, he ranks second behind Australian Oscar Piastri. “I have dreamed since I was a child that I will climb to the top in a sport that is my passion. And now it is coming true for me,” Chou Kuan-yu said in a statement.
Bottas will replace compatriot Kimi Räikkönen, who will end his career after this season. Chou Kuan-yu will take the place of the Italian Antonio Giovinazzi, with whom the management of Alfa Romeo will not renew the contract after three years of cooperation.
BREAKING: Guanyu Zhou will race for Alfa Romeo in 2022, becoming China’s first full-time # F1 driver pic.twitter.com/Fd3Zkwth6D
– Formula 1 (@ F1) November 16, 2021
According to the head of the stable, Frédéric Vasseur, the involvement of the Chinese pilot is a crucial step for the team and a great marketing opportunity with regard to the key Chinese market. “This decision is crucial for the future of the company. It was not just the fact that he is Chinese, but it will be a huge boost for the company, the sponsors and I think for F1 as such,” he told Reuters.
Hamilton won the Brazilian Grand Prix in a fantastic ride, and the fight for the world champion is dramatized
Vasseur declined to give details of the length of the contract or conditions. According to speculations, Chou Kuan-yu will bring the team up to $ 30 million.
| Overview of stables and drivers for the next year’s Formula 1 World Championship: |
| Mercedes |
| Lewis Hamilton and George Russell (both UK) |
| Red Bull |
| Max Verstappen (Nizozemsko) a Sergio Perez (Mexiko) |
| McLaren |
| Daniel Ricciardo (Australia) and Lando Norris (United Kingdom) |
| Ferrari |
| Charles Leclerc (Monaco) and Carlos Sainz jr. (Spain) |
| Alpine |
| Fernando Alonso (Spain) and Esteban Ocon (France) |
| AlphaTauri |
| Pierre Gasly (France) and Juki Cunoda (Japan) |
| Aston Martin |
| Sebastian Vettel (Germany) and Lance Stroll (Canada) |
| Williams |
| Nicholas Latifi (Canada) and Alexander Albon (Thailand) |
| Alfa Romeo |
| Valtteri Bottas (Finland) and Zhou Guangyu (China) |
| Haas |
| Nikita Mazepin (Russia) and Mick Schumacher (Germany) |
.
