ALFA ROMEO SIGNED GUANYU ZHOU: The first Chinese in the history of Formula 1, all lineups for 2022 have been filled!

Alfa Romeo officially confirmed that Antonio Giovinazzi will not drive for the Italian team next season in Formula 1.

For months, there has been speculation about who could drive for Alfa Romeo next season, and after the official signing of the contract with Valtteri Bottas , who will replace Kimi Raikkonen, the position of the second driver for the next season remained vacant.

It was certain that a member of Ferrari’s academy, Antonio Giovinazzi, would not stay in the team, and several names were mentioned as potential replacements.

The name who was given the best chance to get a place in the Alfa is Guanyu Zhou, the driver of the Virtuosi team in Formula 2, and a member of Alpina’s driving academy.

The assumptions were officially confirmed today, and Guanyu Zhou signed for Alfa Romeo today and became the first Chinese driver in the history of Formula 1.

Guanyu Zhou had several really fantastic performances in Formula 2, but what “bought” him a place in the fastest caravan in the world, is the huge sponsorship pull that Zhou has behind him. The Chinese sponsors announced significant financial investments in Alfa Romeo, which was certainly one of the important factors for the advantage.

Since childhood, I dreamed of reaching the top in the sport I love. It is a privilege to start my career in Formula 1 in this cult team, which has introduced so many young talents to this sport. I feel that I am well prepared for the great challenge that lies ahead of me. The goal for next season will be to learn as much and as fast as possible. I want to thank the team for this opportunity. Being the first Chinese driver in Formula 1 is a historic success. I know that many will place their hopes in me, and I will understand that as a motivation to become better and achieve more – said 22-year-old Guanyu Zhou.

For identical reasons, Nicholas Latifi drives for Williams, as well as Lance Stroll for Aston Martin. Antonio Giovinazzi and had his comment on the new Alfa Romeo driver.

– Formula 1 is emotion, talent, cars, risk, speed. But when money rules, then it can be ruthless. I believe in the surprise of an unexpected result, a big or small victory achieved thanks to the commitment. If this is my first photo in Formula 1, the last one has not been taken yet – Giovinazzi wrote on his Twitter profile.

The Italian did not wait long for his new engagement, so Antonio Giovinazzi will drive in the Formula E championship for the Dragon Penske team next season.

It will be interesting to see if Alfa Romeo will keep Robert Kubica and his sponsor ORLEN as a backup driver, given the arrival of new sponsors. Guanyu Zhou served as Alpine’s reserve driver this season, and next season he will be replaced by Oscar Piastri, a Formula 2 racing driver.

With today’s signature, all driving lineups for the next season have been officially confirmed.                                                                                                                                

MercedesLewis HamiltonGeorge Russell
FerrariCharles LeclercCarlos Sainz
Red BullMax VerstappenSergio Perez
McLarenDaniel RicciardoLando Norris
AlpineFernando AlonsoEsteban Ocon
AlphaTauriPierre GaslyYuki Tsunoda
Aston MartinSebastian VettelLance Stroll
Alfa RomeoValtteri BottasGuanyu Zhou
Haas F1Mick SchumacherNikita Mazepin
WilliamsAlex AlbonNicholas Latifi
https://www.instagram.com/p/CWVP9-toIBu

What are your expectations from next season? Will this long-announced change of rules bring some changes in the championship, or will we continue to see the dominance of one team in the races?

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