Zhou will make F1 debut for Alpine this weekend

Alpine Academy driver Guanyu Zhou will make his official Formula 1 debut for Alpine this Friday. The current leader in the Formula 2 championship will take over the car from Fernando Alonso in the first free practice session.

Zhou has been part of Alpine's junior programme since 2019. The Chinese driver currently leads the Formula 2 championship with two wins in Bahrain and Monaco and has two more podiums to his name. The 22-year-old driver is entering his third season in Formula 2 this year and is a test driver for Alpine in Formula 1.

"Driving in FP1 during a Formula 1 Grand Prix weekend is like a dream come true and another step closer to my ultimate goal of becoming a Formula 1 driver," Zhou told an Alpine press release. "It will be a very special moment. I'm preparing as best I can to be ready for it and also to make sure I can complete all the goals and plans the team has set for me."

Zhou is the first Chinese driver in eight years to take part in a Formula One weekend. Ma Qinghua featured in a number of free practice sessions for HRT and Caterham in 2012 and 2013. Never before has a Chinese driver started in a Formula One race. "So to be behind the wheel of an F1 car during a race weekend will give a very proud feeling. It will be even more special that I drive Fernando's car, as he inspired me to choose a racing career at a young age" said Zhou.