Guan Yu Zhou

Zhou Guanyu’s Formula 1 debut in 2022 marked the series’ long-sought fulfilment to get a Chinese driver onto the F1 grid.

Earning his opportunity with the Alfa Romeo F1 Team, Zhou complemented the historic honour by scoring on his debut in Bahrain and going on to prove a worthy understudy to experienced team-mate Valtteri Bottas come the end of his rookie campaign.

Basing himself in Italy during the early stages of his racing career, Zhou quickly emerged as arguably the most convincing young hopeful to emerge from the world’s most populous nation.

Making headlines by securing the lucrative endorsement of a spot in the Ferrari Driver Academy while competing in the FIA Formula 3 European Championship, Zhou defected to the Renault junior programme upon making his F2 debut in 2018.

Three seasons with UNI-Virtuosi Racing saw Zhou top the podium on five occasions, with his run to third overall in 2021 going on to open a door to F1 with Alfa Romeo.

Zhou Guanyu, Alfa Romeo C42, is tipped upside down at the start

Photo by: Glenn Dunbar / Motorsport Images

2022 - Alfa Romeo F1 Team Orlen

18th - 6 points

As the only rookie to make his F1 debut in 2022, Zhou had his work cut out to measure up against his more experienced counterparts, among them his ex-Mercedes race-winning team-mate Bottas.

However, a punchy drive to tenth place in the well-judged Alfa Romeo C41 at the Bahrain opener would see Zhou join the exclusive band of drivers to score on their F1 debut.

While Zhou would have a hard time getting the most from his package in qualifying, he’d often prove a more competitive race day prospect, even if it would only lead to two further trips into the top ten over the course of the year; a best finish of eighth in Canada, plus a tenth place at Monza.

Though his season will perhaps be best remembered for his spectacular flip and roll over the barriers at the start of the British Grand Prix, Zhou closed the margin to Bottas towards the end of the year to earn him an extended stay with Alfa Romeo for 2023.