Zhou Guanyu: China's first full-time F1 driver

Introduction

Guanyu Zhou is the first Chinese driver to compete full-time in Formula One (F1), currently racing for Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber (formerly Alfa Romeo) in the FIA Formula One World Championship. His journey from karting to F1 highlights a structured path in the international junior single-seater category, with strong performances in Formula Two (F2) and links with the Formula One Driver Academy.

This article provides an in-depth look at Guanyu Zhou's racing career, technical strengths, challenges, and impact on Chinese motorsport.

Early Career and Karting (2010-2014)

Guanyu Zhou started karting in China at the age of 8, before moving to Europe in 2012 to compete at a higher level. He joined Strawberry Racing, one of Europe's top karting teams, and competed in several international karting championships.

His notable karting achievements include:

• 2013 UK Super 1 National Rotax Max Junior Championship – Champion
• 2013 Rotax Max Eurocup – Runner-up
• 2014 CIK-FIA European Karting Championship – Top 10

Zhou’s success in karting helped him move to single-seaters in 2015, starting with the Italian F4 Championship.

Formula Junior Career (2015-2021)

Italian Formula 4 (2015)

In 2015, Zhou competed in the Italian Formula 4 Championship, one of the most competitive entry-level single-seater series, for the Prema Powerteam. He achieved:

• 4 wins, 3 pole positions and 9 podiums
• 2nd in the championship standings

This strong rookie season established him as one of the top young drivers and helped him join the Ferrari Driver Academy (FDA) in 2014, with the support of Ferrari.

European Formula 3 Championship (2016-2018)

Zhou moved up to the FIA European Formula 3 Championship in 2016, continuing with Prema Powerteam before moving to Motopark in 2017 and UNI-Virtuosi in 2018.

His best season was in 2018, where he finished 8th overall, scoring:

• 2 pole positions
• 2 podiums

Although Zhou did not win in Formula 3, his consistency and speed earned him a spot in Formula 2 in 2019, moving to the Renault Sport Academy.

Formula 2 (2019-2021)

Zhou joined UNI-Virtuosi Racing in the FIA Formula 2 Championship in 2019, continuing with UNI-Virtuosi Racing for the team for three seasons.

2019 (Rookie Season)

• 7 podiums
• 7th Championship
• FIA Formula 2 Antoine Hubert Award (Best Rookie)

2020

• First F2 win – Sochi Sprint Race
• 6th Championship

2021

• 4 wins, 9 podiums, 1 pole
• 3rd Championship

His performances in 2021, combined with his role as Renault F1 test and reserve driver, earned him a full-time F1 contract with Alfa Romeo for 2022.

Formula 1 Career (2022–Present)

Alfa Romeo F1 Team (2022–2023)

In 2022, Zhou became the first Chinese driver to compete full-time in F1, driving for Alfa Romeo alongside Valtteri Bottas.

2022 Season Highlights

• F1 debut – Bahrain Grand Prix – P10, points in debut race
• Best result – Canadian Grand Prix (P8)
• Six points in championship, P18
• Major crash – 2022 British Grand Prix – Survived high-speed accident at Silverstone thanks to Halo device

He had a solid rookie season, showing consistent pace, clean racing skills and adaptability.

2023 Season Highlights

• Best Qualifying – Hungarian Grand Prix (P5, Q3 start)
• Best Results – Spanish Grand Prix (P9)
• Finished P18 in the Championship with 6 points

Chou showed improved qualifying performance and strong defensive skills, but car performance and race pace struggled due to Alfa Romeo’s midfield limitations.

Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber (2024-Present)

In 2024, Alfa Romeo changed its name to Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber, with Zhou continuing to race alongside Bottas. This season will be crucial to his long-term F1 future as Audi prepares to take over Sauber in 2026. Zhou will need consistent results and stronger race performance to secure his seat beyond 2024.

Strengths and Driving Style

Chou is known for the following traits:

• Consistency – Solid performances without major mistakes.
• Racing Skills – Ability to overtake cleanly and drive defensively.
• Tyre Management – Efficient handling of long races.
• Adapting to Team Strategy – Effective execution of team race plan.

His driving style is balanced, focusing on smooth cornering and stability rather than aggressive oversteer.

Challenges and Areas for Improvement

Chou faces multiple challenges in F1:

1. Qualifying Pace – Needs to improve single lap performance in order to start higher on the grid.

2. Aggression in Race – Occasionally playing it safe in wheel-to-wheel races.

3. Car Development – Sauber’s mid-pack performance limits his ability to compete for higher positions.

To achieve long-term success in F1, Zhou must outperform his teammates, score regular points, and improve his ability to extract maximum performance from the car.

Impact on Chinese Motorsport

Zhou's presence in F1 has had a significant impact on the development of Chinese motorsport:

• Increased Chinese F1 audience
• Inspired young Chinese racers
• Revived interest in the Chinese Grand Prix (returning in 2024 after a four-year absence)

His career is expected to contribute to Chinese motorsport infrastructure and driver development programs.

Future prospects

Zhou Guanyu's future in F1 depends on:

• Performance against teammate Valtteri Bottas in 2024
• Sauber-Audi 2026 driver program
• Sponsorship and market influence in F1

If he performs well in 2024**, he may stay with Audi's F1 program or switch to another team in the midfield. If results are erratic, his seat may be at risk.

Conclusion

Zhou Guanyu has established himself as a stable, reliable F1 driver, becoming a major figure in global motorsport. His technical ability, adaptability and discipline have enabled him to improve, but he will need to further improve his qualifying and racing skills if he is to have long-term success in F1.

His move to F1 will not only be significant for his career, but also for the development of Chinese motorsport, potentially paving the way for future Chinese drivers to compete in F1.