How did Formula 1 drivers do at their new teams in Barcelona?

Everyone was waiting to see how the first test days in Barcelona would go, but for a few drivers it was extra exciting: Guanyu Zhou made his debut as a rookie at Alfa Romeo, while Alexander Albon returned after a year on the reserve bench. Valtteri Bottas also made his first miles with a new team. How did these drivers do?

Zhou makes Formula 1 debut

For Zhou, the first winter test was perhaps the most exciting. The Chinese racing talent will make his Formula 1 debut in 2022 with Alfa Romeo, for whom he competed in Barcelona. There, the rookie certainly did not do badly. He came into action for the first time on the second day and was immediately on top by setting a tenth time.

On the last day he set a thirteenth time. His best time was a 1:21.885 on the C3 (medium) tyre, which was four tenths faster than the fastest time of team mate Bottas. The latter, however, could not make serious metres on the third test day. Over all days Zhou's time was good for a sixteenth place.

Albon makes comeback at Williams

Former Red Bull Racing driver Albon will be a regular driver at Williams in the near future. After a year of absence he gets another chance to prove himself in the premier class of motor racing.

The Thai driver was in action on all three test days, and he too was anything but bad. On the first day he set an eleventh time, followed by ninth and eighth times on days two and three. His best time was a 1:20.318 on the C4 (soft) tyre, with which he ended the winter test in eleventh place.

Bottas did not have a problem-free first test with Alfa Romeo

Bottas also has to find his feet at a new team. The Finn had to make way for George Russell at Mercedes and switched to Alfa Romeo. For him, however, the first test was less productive than for teammate Zhou.

Bottas finished the first day of testing with a tenth time, followed by a fifteenth time on the second day. The final day had problems in store for the Finn: he was only able to complete ten laps and did not set a serious time. His best time was a 1:22.288 on the C3 (medium) tyre, ending the winter test in twentieth place.