F1 News
Zhou wants to stay at Alfa Romeo: 'My manager is currently in talks'
- Sam Godber
Guanyu Zhou' s contract at Alfa Romeo is expiring and the Chinese driver hopes he will be allowed to stay on alongside Valtteri Bottas. He cites the summer break as the ideal time to talk about it with the team. Things should move quickly, as Zhou hopes to have more clarity by the start of the second half of the season.
That will give the Alfa Romeo driver confidence and will only help his performance in F1. Zhou was given another year's chance by Alfa Romeo after his rookie season in 2022. While things were still a bit shaky and rough at times for the Chinese driver in 2022, he seems to be doing a lot better in the first half of the season. His consistency in particular is a boost.
Zhou wants clarity from Alfa Romeo at end of summer break
The car does not always cooperate and especially during races, driving the Alfa Romeo is a treacherous activity. However, Zhou is proving himself well and gained one point less than his experienced teammate Valtteri Bottas in the first 12 races. Zhou hopes to stand next to Bottas again in 2024 and hopefully beat him: “I want to have a clear picture before the summer ends [...] My manager is discussing with the team, so we have to see," Zhou reveals to Autosport.com.
In any case, what Zhou wants is clear. Zhou: “My priority is trying to stay here. After two years I really feel I’m settled well within the team.” If the negotiations with Alfa Romeo break down, Zhou may be able to find another way onto the F1 grid. Although the driver does not yet seem ready for the (sub-)top teams, a move to Haas where he replaces Kevin Magnussen would be a possibility.