Tag: Zhou Guanyu

Drivers throw support behind GM F1 entry

A number of the Formula 1 drivers have backed General Motors’ arrival in the sport with the Cadillac brand, with the likes of Valtteri Bottas and Kevin Magnussen open to future race seat opportunities with the team. F1 announced it is working …

A number of the Formula 1 drivers have backed General Motors’ arrival in the sport with the Cadillac brand, with the likes of Valtteri Bottas and Kevin Magnussen open to future race seat opportunities with the team.

F1 announced it is working towards GM joining the grid in 2026, whereby the team will run under the Cadillac name and use a customer power unit deal until its own works engine is ready in 2028. Its addition will expand the field to 11 teams and 22 cars, and Lewis Hamilton said it will also provide extra positions for engineers and mechanics as well as drivers. 

“I think it’s great,” Hamilton said. “I’ve always been super supportive of having another team; more cars on the grid. To think of how many more job opportunities that is… I’m so happy to hear that it’s happening.” 

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1388]

Hamilton is one of the drivers who has raced in a grid of more than 20 cars in the past – the last year being 2016 when the Manor team was last competing – and Fernando Alonso similarly backed a project that includes some of his former colleagues such as technical director Nick Chester, advisor Pat Symonds and COO Rob White.

“Eleventh team, 22 drivers, it’s not the first time that we will be 22 on the grid,” Alonso said. “It’s a complex decision for the sport in general but if they came to that conclusion it’s because it’s the best for everybody. I will always support whatever management think that is the best.

“For the team personnel, they have a couple of people that were in the Renault days and for sure they will have a huge contribution right now at the very early part of the project, with a lot of experience in Formula 1 and in the sport. So I wish the best of luck. A new team is never an easy task, but I think they will be well prepared and they have the right people.”

For many of the younger drivers it will be the first time they race on a grid of more than 20 F1 cars, and Charles Leclerc said that provides more chances for up-and-coming driving talent, too.

“It’s the first time in my career that I’ll be 22 on the grid in F1, and that’s exciting,” Leclerc said. “I also think that there are lots of young drivers waiting for a place in Formula 1, and that will obviously give more opportunities to very talented young drivers that are dreaming to get into Formula 1. So for that, this is a good thing, and cool to have two more cars on the grid.”

Pierre Gasly echoed Leclerc’s sentiments, and emphasized benefits from a racing spectacle point of view.

“It’s exciting,” he said. “It’s going to be my first time to race with 22 cars in F1. So more rivals, probably more action, more racing. So, exciting times. I think it’s been a long topic for quite a long time. So I’m sure if they came to that conclusion, definitely means it’s the best for the sport. So I’m excited about it.”

But it’s not just young drivers who are excited by the prospect. Bottas is out of a seat at the end of this year and said he has spoken to GM already about his availability for 2026.

“I think that’s just increased the chances of getting a seat for 2026, which ultimately is the goal,” Bottas said. “But if not, then there’s lots of other cool things in other series.

“Yes (I’ve had talks), I think for sure I’m not the only one, but of course, it’s interesting for me, and I think it’s great for F1. Great brand, GM is a big backer behind it so, for sure, it’s an interesting project.”

Magnussen is another who is set to drop off the grid next year, and he has history with the manufacturer after racing a Chip Ganassi Racing Cadillac in IMSA in 2021.

“Absolutely, I think it’s exciting to see,” Magnussen said. “It’s a proper competitor coming in, a great name and an OEM who’s going to come in with guns blazing and throw everything at it I’m sure. So it’s exciting for the sport, exciting for the driver market, for the grid.

“You never know of course. I have driven for the factory before in IMSA, it was the factory Cadillac that I drove there, so I know the management, I know the people there. They know me. So you don’t know.”

Along with those more experienced names, Zhou Guanyu – who scored his first points of the season in Qatar on Sunday – has links to the GM entry’s advisory team, and says he’s also looking at the new constructor as a potential opportunity to get back on the grid in just over a year’s time.

“I’m fully aware that GM and also Cadillac joined the grid,” Zhou said. “I think it’s very good for the sport in general because a lot of people are always talking about having not enough seats for the people, the young drivers available. Clearly, I think we have a lot of young drivers for next year. 

“From my position, it’s a great opportunity and a great chance for next season when I’m not having a seat. So I can probably think about what the future will be and try to have an opportunity there. So I’m aware of that.

“But everything was just only announced this week. We still need to go through further details a bit more on that. But for me, my priority is trying to have another chance of coming back on the grid. So for me, I don’t really have where I go, but if there’s a chance to grab, I will absolutely take it.”

Zhou’s SQ3 delights home crowd

Zhou Guanyu admits the pressure at his home race weekend has been extreme, but he responded well in Sprint qualifying for Stake Sauber at the Chinese Grand Prix. China’s first-ever Formula 1 driver is making his debut in front of his home crowd due …

Zhou Guanyu admits the pressure at his home race weekend has been extreme, but he responded well in Sprint qualifying for Stake Sauber at the Chinese Grand Prix.

China’s first-ever Formula 1 driver is making his debut in front of his home crowd due to Shanghai being off the calendar for five years, despite this being his third season in the sport. Zhou duly delighted a large turnout on Friday by reaching SQ3 for the first time in his career.

“Yeah it’s a big relief,” Zhou told Sky Sports. “I’m just really happy for today. It’s a lot of pressure coming into this weekend — of course fans have high expectations like always, but first time at home, first day in the office, first time at the track, just great to be SQ3 also for my first time in my career.

“The pressure I think before the weekend was so extreme, like I never felt since the first race I did. So everyone is here to see you and you just want to do well, and that’s where normally mistakes can happen. But I’m happy with day one.”

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1388]

The laps that ensured Zhou joined teammate Valtteri Bottas in SQ3 were met with loud responses from the crowd, and he says he could hear that support ahead of each run.

“Yeah, every time before I jumped in the car, even in the garage I could see the crowd is cheering, so I’m just honored and I’m just really happy that I was able to give them some kind of result and reward them for coming here and sitting in the rain,” he said. “It’s been mixed conditions but a lot of fun out there.

“Of course (it was stressful), especially that last run in SQ3. I had no idea where the dry line was really and was just trying to figure out a lot. On the first lap I went very deep into Turn 6, so I had one lap. I was just thinking, ‘OK, let’s try to learn and just get a lap on board.’ So a lot of things to find in the rain, but the good thing is in the dry we look competitive.”

Stake has yet to score a point so far this season, with pit stop issues particularly hampering the team, but with no pit stops mandatory in the Sprint race, Zhou is targeting a top-eight finish to finally get on the board.

“If I want to score my first point of the season I’m going to pick Shanghai all day! So I’m going to give it everything — let’s see the mixed conditions, let’s make the best of it and let’s also prepare for Sunday’s race, which is the main race. But I’m just happy with the first day out there and great to have everyone there.”

Verstappen tops crash-shortened third Saudi Arabian GP practice

Max Verstappen topped final practice at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix after a heavy crash for Zhou Guanyu restricted running. Zhou lost the rear of his Sauber at Turn 7 and pirouetted into the barriers on the outside of Turn 8 with just over 17 …

Max Verstappen topped final practice at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix after a heavy crash for Zhou Guanyu restricted running.

Zhou lost the rear of his Sauber at Turn 7 and pirouetted into the barriers on the outside of Turn 8 with just over 17 minutes remaining on the clock. His C44 suffered major damage at the rear, with the front wing and right-rear corner hanging off the car. The third-year Chinese driver climbed from the wreck unscathed.

The Stake Sauber team has a little over two hours to complete the rebuild ahead of qualifying, with the extent of the damage unclear.

Repairs to the barriers took around 12 minutes, and the session resumed with just five minutes on the clock. Cars queued at the end of pit lane for their final pre-qualifying laps on the soft tire, but at the end of the flurry of laps Verstappen was still fastest, setting the bar at 1m28.412s.

Charles Leclerc followed him just 0.196s further back for Ferrari, while Sergio Perez was 0.494s behind his Red Bull Racing teammate in third.

The touch-and-go resumption of the session was good news for debutant Oliver Bearman, who is substituting for Carlos Sainz after the Spaniard full-timer was diagnosed with appendicitis.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1388]

“Take your time into the car, take you rhythm, build up from there,” was the advice to Bearman from Sainz’s usual engineer, Riccardo Adami.

The Briton had been sent out immediately upon pit lane opening at the start of the hour to maximize his seat time and to take advantage of the typically quiet opening minutes of third practice. His first flying lap clocked in at 1m33.114s with a set of medium tires, eclipsing his Formula 2 pole time from Thursday by 9.1s.

Bearman progressively lowered his time before embarking on a long run before Zhou’s red flag suspended the session. The resumption gave him a chance to sample the soft tire ahead of qualifying with a single full-power flying lap.

A mistake sent him off track at Turn 22, but he completed the lap with a time of 1m28.412s. It put him 10th in the final order, 0.894s off the pace and 0.698s behind teammate Leclerc. He will start qualifying with 22 laps behind the wheel of the SF-24.

Mercedes driver George Russell finished fourth ahead of McLaren’s Lando Norris and Aston Martin teammates Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll.

McLaren’s Oscar Piastri finished eighth ahead of Lewis Hamilton in the second Mercedes. Hamilton’s car was loaded up with extra rear downforce compared to teammate Russell via a larger rear wing, responding to complaints on Friday of a loose rear axle.

Bearman completed the top 10 ahead of Kevin Magnussen, Pierre Gasly, Yuki Tsunoda, Esteban Ocon and Nico Hulkenberg.

Daniel Ricciardo was 16th ahead of Alex Albon, Valtteri Bottas and the crashed-out Zhou.

Logan Sargeant completed the session in 20th and with just two laps and no time to his name. The American driver clipped the wall at the inside of Turn 22 with a heavy thump to hisWilliams’ left-front wheel. He limped back to the pits unable to steer and wasn’t seen again for the rest of the session.

Zhou Guanyu re-signs with Alfa Romeo for 2024

Alfa Romeo is sticking with its current lineup for the 2024 season.

Alfa Romeo-Sauber driver Zhou Guanyu has his seat locked up for 2024.

The team announced on Thursday that Zhou would be re-joining the team on what appears to be a one-year deal on Thursday. Zhou has been in contract talks for some time, and now, the deal finally gets done.

Zhou has 10 career points in 36 race starts for the team. His two best finishes in 2023 are both ninth place, once at the Australian Grand Prix in April and then at the Spanish Grand Prix in June. He’ll remain with teammate Valtteri Bottas, who has scored 55 points in the same car the last two years.

With Zhou’s extension, there looks to be almost no driver switches or turnover during the upcoming offseason (unless someone’s contract is bought out). The only team to really look at now is Scuderia AlphaTauri, who could do a number of different things with its driver lineup next year between Yuki Tsunoda, Daniel Ricciardo and Liam Lawson vying for a seat.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Alfa Romeo retains Zhou as part of unchanged 2024 lineup

Alfa Romeo has confirmed Zhou Guanyu will remain with the Formula 1 team in 2024 as it opts for an unchanged driver lineup with the Chinese driver alongside Valtteri Bottas. Zhou was out of contract at the end of this season but has shown good …

Alfa Romeo has confirmed Zhou Guanyu will remain with the Formula 1 team in 2024 as it opts for an unchanged driver lineup with the Chinese driver alongside Valtteri Bottas.

Zhou was out of contract at the end of this season but has shown good progress in his second year in F1, picking up two top-10 finishes in a difficult car that has yielded a total of only 10 points so far. In pairing Zhou with Bottas once again, Alfa Romeo team representative Alessandro Alunni Bravi says the team is prioritizing stability while keeping Theo Pourchaire in a reserve role.

“The decision to continue our journey with our driver lineup unchanged is testament to the investment we have made in our project,” Alunni Bravi said. “Nothing in Formula 1 changes overnight, and we have taken a conscious decision to focus on stability and to keep building our team up together as we embark on an important period of transition.

“Valtteri and Zhou are drivers of known talent and skill and they work really well together: they are well-matched and can push each other. Valtteri has taken a real leader’s role within the team, pushing us all to give our best; Zhou has made impressive steps forward in the last two years and we expect him to continue on this trajectory in 2024. Now the baton is back to us — we have to give both drivers a good car and put them in the best conditions to perform.

“Finally, I am happy that Theo will remain with the team for 2024 as one of our reserve drivers. He has done an incredible job this year, not just in F2, where we will all support him as he fights for the title in Abu Dhabi, but also behind the scenes, working with the team in Hinwil.”

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1388]

Zhou points to the partnership he has with Bottas as a strength of the lineup that will benefit Alfa Romeo moving forward, as the pair enter a third season together.

“Signing again with the team is always a great feeling, especially when we know how things are shaping up,” Zhou said. “I am proud to be part of Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake and grateful for their trust: I have been working extremely hard since day one and there is an incredible level of motivation to keep doing so every day forward.

“My relationship with Valtteri is really good, and we are working closely together and with the team to push everyone forward. I am also very excited about the opportunity to finally race with my team in China, in front of my home crowd. It will be a great moment and I’m proud to be able to share it with all those who have supported me.”

Bottas, who had signed a multi-year agreement when he joined Alfa Romeo at the start of the 2022 season, also expressed satisfaction about keeping the current team together.

“I have a feeling we have an exciting journey ahead of us, so I am happy and grateful to be able to look forward to 2024 knowing how the team is shaping up,” Bottas said. “There is a good atmosphere within our squad — I get along with Zhou and we both push each other hard to improve.

“There is an impressive amount of work going on behind the scenes, in Hinwil and beyond, and now that the lineup is set for next year, we can focus fully on improving, starting this weekend in Singapore already. Every step forward we make is a step forward for this year and next, so we are motivated to give everything we have every time we’re trackside or at the factory.”

Zhou focusing on short-term goals with F1 driver market looking wild for 2024

While Zhou Guanyu hopes to extend his stay at Sauber beyond this season, he says long-term stability is unlikely with multiple driver contracts expiring at the end of 2024. Currently racing as Alfa Romeo, the team will rebrand at the end of this …

While Zhou Guanyu hopes to extend his stay at Sauber beyond this season, he says long-term stability is unlikely with multiple driver contracts expiring at the end of 2024.

Currently racing as Alfa Romeo, the team will rebrand at the end of this season ahead of its transition into Audi’s F1 works team in 2026, and Zhou’s contract is set to expire after this year. The Chinese driver has delivered improved consistency and sits just one point behind teammate Valtteri Bottas in an uncompetitive 2023 car, and while he wants to sign a new deal he’s aware of how chaotic the driver market is likely to look in 12 months’ time.

“We are very open to all aspects for next year, and I myself will prefer staying here (Sauber),” Zhou told Titan Media. “Although it will not be Alfa next year, the team will become a factory team from 2026. So it is very important to me to be here to deliver better performance and fit better within the team. There may be many options during this period because I feel that there could be many shifts in the drivers market next year.”

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1388]

On top of deals that expire this year, nine drivers are believed to be out of contract after 2024, including Charles Leclerc, Sergio Perez, Carlos Sainz, Fernando Alonso, Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly. Despite the uncertainty, Zhou says he is less anxious about his future than he was a year ago, when as a rookie he needed to trigger an option on his contract to remain with Alfa Romeo.

“Last year I might have been more concerned about the seat,” he said. “Although there is nothing confirmed so far this year and I’ve signed nothing related to the future, step by step, everything is proceeding as planned.

“What I need to know more is how to find what I think is the best for myself and the best for my future development. In this regard, I am not as worried as last year, and I will not let myself be concerned too much.

“Of course, I hope to continue what I am doing now — I want to do my best in all aspects and maximize what I have got in all areas (with racing), and leave other things to my management team.”

Return to the points ‘a massive relief’ for Zhou

A top ten result in the Spanish Grand Prix came as “a massive relief” for Alfa Romeo, admits Zhou Guanyu. Alfa Romeo had scored on just two occasions so far in 2023 prior to the race in Barcelona, but Zhou delivered an impressive drive to finish …

A top ten result in the Spanish Grand Prix came as “a massive relief” for Alfa Romeo, admits Zhou Guanyu.

Alfa Romeo had scored on just two occasions so far in 2023 prior to the race in Barcelona, but Zhou delivered an impressive drive to finish ninth and move the team level with Haas in the constructors’ championship. After fighting with Yuki Tsunoda before securing two points, Zhou says it’s a boost for the whole team.

“That feels like a massive relief for us, and for the team here and back in Hinwil,” Zhou said. “It was a tricky start to the season for the team. We finally got some points that we deserved, and the car was mega. I was feeling comfortable out there, taking the right chance when I had the opportunities. We executed the race.

“ I would say (it’s one of my best drives). It’s one of the one or two on the table.”

Zhou crossed the line in tenth place but was promoted due to a five-second time penalty that Tsunoda was given for forcing the Chinese driver off track, something Zhou says was an obvious penalty in his view.

[lawrence-related id=327477]

“It was very straightforward. I was ahead before braking into Turn 1. Mid-corner, I was actually giving a lot of space and then I saw he wasn’t stopping, tried to release the brake, ran me off, which I had to take avoiding action on the escape road, otherwise we would be crashing together.

“That was tricky after that, because I had so much rubbish on my tires. In the end, I was able to keep behind in the right position and get the position back.”

The result came with Zhou’s teammate Valtteri Bottas struggling massively in Spain, with the Finn believing he had an issue with his car in much the same way Charles Leclerc felt for Ferrari on Saturday.

“For me it’s pretty clearly there was something not right with the car, because I was more than one second per lap off, just sliding around,” Bottas said. “Whether it was a mechanical or aero issue I cannot say, because the balance was not, like, way off, but it was just lack of overall grip. So, we’ll see if there’s something damaged in the car…

“Either something mechanical has been installed wrongly, before qualifying, something that affects the ride height or something, or there’s something aero wise. I would have thought so.
“I’m really pleased that we got two points – I just had a chat with Zhou and he was saying the pace was quite good. It’s good, but not for me! It’s good to see that the upgrades are doing the job.”

Este ángulo del choque de Zhou Gyanyu en el British Grand Prix de la F1 es terrorífico

El British Grand Prix tuvo un inicio de terror el día de hoy con un choque en la primera vuelta que afortunadamente no tuvo lesiones serias. El Alfa Romeo de Zhou Guanyu se volteó y salió volando por la arena a orilla de la pista antes de impactarse …

El British Grand Prix tuvo un inicio de terror el día de hoy con un choque en la primera vuelta que afortunadamente no tuvo lesiones serias.

El Alfa Romeo de Zhou Guanyu se volteó y salió volando por la arena a orilla de la pista antes de impactarse contra la valla y quedar atrapado entre la valla y la barrera de la pista.

Fue una escena escalofriante pero afortunadamente Guanyu fue sacado del auto por los médicos y de alguna manera no sufrió lesiones importantes. El halo usado en los carros de F1 para proteger a los pilotos hizo su trabajo y puede que haya salvado la vida de Guanyu.

Este ángulo del choque es de locos:

Traducción.- Qué horrible choque, espero que @ZhouGuanyu24 esté bien.

Aquí hay otro ángulo.

Traducción.- Es un milagro que Zhou Guanyu saliera vivo del Alfa Romeo. Gracias a Dios por el halo.

Este es el reporte inicial de su estado de salud.

Traducción.- Actualización: Dios pilotos involucrados en el incidente al inicio de la carrera fueron revisados en el centro médico. No hay lesiones importantes. El piloto del Auto 24 (Zhou) está bajo observación el el centro médico.

El piloto del Auto 23 (Albon) fue transferido en helicóptero al Conventry Hospital para revisiones de precaución. El piloto del Auto 63 (Russell) fue revisado por el equipo médico y declarado sano.

Otra vez, el halo funcionó.

Traducción.- El auto de Guanyu quedó destrozado, pero pueden ver que el halo alrededor de la cabeza de los pilotos hizo su trabajo y está intacto. 

 

 

Traducido por META

This angle of Zhou Guanyu’s crash in the F1 British Grand Prix is absolutely terrifying

Thankfully Zhou Guanyu is OK after this horrific crash.

The British Grand Prix got off to a terrifying start today with a huge crash on the first lap that thankfully didn’t lead to any serious injuries.

Zhou Guanyu’s Alfa Romeo car flipped over and went flying through the sand just off the track before slamming into the fence and getting stuck between the fence and the barrier to the track.

It was a frightening scene but thankfully Guanyu was pulled out of the car by medics and somehow didn’t suffer any major injuries. The halo used on the F1 cars to protect the drivers did its job here and might have even saved Guanyu’s life.

This angle of the crash is wild:

Here’s another angle:

Here is the initial update on his health:

Again, the halo worked:

Twitter had reactions.