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Jonathan White

Chinese Formula 1 hope Zhou Guanyu did his chances of stepping up to the top level of motorsport no harm with another podium finish in Formula 2 on Saturday to extend his lead in the drivers’ championship, despite not finishing the second sprint.
Zhou finished in third place in the first sprint race in Baku, Azerbaijan, finishing behind winner Robert Schwartzmann and Dan Ticktum.
He held on to his place from the starting grid – having finished in eighth in qualifying, Zhou was moved up to third as the top 10 qualifiers are reversed for the first sprint race of the weekend.
The Shanghai-born driver has the most podiums of the season so far with four, the latest adding another 10 points to his total in the driver’s championship.

Four podiums and counting for @gyzhou_33 in 2021

No one has more than our championship leader!#AzerbaijanGP #F2 pic.twitter.com/yatp3YsBgX
— Formula 2 (@Formula2) June 5, 2021

Zhou, 21, entered the weekend with a 16-point lead at the top of the standings and the P3 finish extended his buffer to 23 points.
In the second sprint race of the day, Zhou started from eighth – as he will in Sunday’s feature race – but crashed out on the first corner.
China F1 hope Zhou channels Kobe Bryant after Monaco disappointment
He explained why on Twitter after the race and apologised to Ticktum, who he took out but went on to finish sixth.
“Throttle pedal got stuck before T1,” Zhou wrote. “Was a passenger after, I tried my best to avoid all the cars ahead. I’m really sorry to Dan Ticktum.”
There were several other drivers not to finish and Zhou’s 23-point lead remians intact going into the feature race, with rookie Oscar Piastri now second in the standings.

Throttle pedal got stuck before T1. Was a passenger after, I tried my best to avoid all the cars ahead.

I’m really sorry to @DanTicktum
— Guanyu Zhou (@gyzhou_33) June 5, 2021

Zhou made his F1 ambitions clear once again in interview with Chinese state media outlet Xinhua on Friday.
“I’m ready to jump into F1 and do the best I can and put everything I’ve learned from these past two years.
“With all the track time I’ve had in the last two years with Alpine, it gave me extra time to be better prepared, and on my side, I’m ready to jump into an F1 car.”

DRIVER STANDINGS

Zhou still reigns at the top of the championship

Two of our super-rookies on the same number of points

How will things stand after Sunday?#AzerbaijanGP #F2 pic.twitter.com/9zvSu9vua4
— Formula 2 (@Formula2) June 5, 2021

The only Chinese driver in Formula 2, Zhou knows how important his third season at this level will be for his dreams.
“This year is going to be one of the most important years of my racing career. I’ve been training double, harder than ever, because it’s going to be such an important year ahead,” he told Xinhua.
“F2 races are on the same weekends as F1, so that’s good – a lot of people will be watching. If I can win the championship or finish in the top three, that will give me quite a high possibility to have an F1 seat [in 2022].”

STARTING GRID

We're all set for our first race of the weekend on Saturday morning!#AzerbaijanGP #F2 pic.twitter.com/WcBinHo3fg
— Formula 2 (@Formula2) June 4, 2021

That will depend on him getting enough Super Licence points, though he is well on the way on to that with his fine start to the F2 season, and someone giving up a seat in the elite.
There is only so much Zhou can do but winning the driver’s championship cannot hurt his chances.


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Chinese F1 hopeful Zhou Guanyu extends F2 lead in Baku despite DNF

Chinese UNI-Virtuosi Formula 2 driver Zhou Guanyu celebrates winning the first feature race of the 2021 season at the Bahrain International Circuit. Photo: Twitter/@Formula2

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China's Zhou Guanyu celebrates victory in the first sprint race at the 2021 Formula 2 Monaco grand prix. Photo: Twitter/Formula 2

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Chinese UNI-Virtuosi Formula 2 driver Zhou Guanyu celebrates winning the first feature race of the 2021 season at rhe Bahrain International Circuit. Photo: Twitter/@Formula2

Sport

China

Motorsport


Fourth podium of season in first sprint race of Azerbaijan GP extends driver’s championship lead to 23 points despite later DNF
The 21-year-old UNI-Virtuosi driver says he is ‘ready for Formula 1’ as he chases Super Licence and a seat in the elite



Fourth podium of season in first sprint race of Azerbaijan GP extends driver’s championship lead to 23 points despite DNF in second race.


Chinese F1 hopeful Zhou Guanyu extends F2 lead in Baku despite DNF

Fourth podium of season in first sprint race of Azerbaijan GP extends driver’s championship lead to 23 points despite later DNF The 21-year-old UNI-Virtuosi driver says he is ‘ready for Formula 1’ as he chases Super Licence and a seat in the elite

Fourth podium of season in first sprint race of Azerbaijan GP extends driver’s championship lead to 23 points despite later DNF

The 21-year-old UNI-Virtuosi driver says he is ‘ready for Formula 1’ as he chases Super Licence and a seat in the elite