Alfa Romeo has extended Zhou Guanyu‘s contract until 2023, keeping China’s first full-time F1 driver alongside Valtteri Bottas.
The 23-year-old made his debut in Bahrain with a point, and he followed that up with two more points finishes in Canada and the Italian Grand Prix.
Alfa Romeo says he has impressed them with his “commitment and attitude,” as well as “levels of maturity and racecraft that belie his young age.”
“The strong relationship Zhou has developed with teammate Bottas, who is on a multi-year contract, also played a role in Alfa Romeo’s decision to give Zhou a second season. I am excited to continue working with Zhou,” Alfa Romeo CEO Fred Vasseur said ahead of this weekend’s Singapore Grand Prix. (Also Read | Lance Stroll: Formula 1, Age, Height, Girlfriend, Wins, Social Media and More)
“I am happy and grateful to Alfa Romeo F1 Team for the opportunity to be a part of the team for another season,” Zhou added. “Making it to Formula 1 was a dream come true, and the sensation of competing in a race for the first time will stay with me forever: the team has been incredibly supportive, welcoming me from day one and assisting me in adjusting to the most complex series in motorsport.”
“There is still much to learn and develop, but I am confident in our work and eagerly await the next chapter of our story together.”
Zhou has six points this season, compared to Bottas’ 46, but it’s believed internally that tally would be much higher if he hadn’t suffered a series of mechanical issues.
