Formula One: Zhou Guanyu hopes to sign off debut season with ‘one final good result’ to repay team
- Chinese rookie is no stranger to Abu Dhabi, having finished on podium there during his time in Formula 2
- The 23-year-old wants to end first campaign on a high with Alfa Romeo, and promises to ‘leave it all out there’
Ahead of the last Formula 1 race of the year in Abu Dhabi this weekend, Zhou Guanyu called the pressure to succeed despite not having a car at the front of the grid the biggest surprise of his rookie season.
The Chinese driver was considered a controversial choice by some for the second seat with Alfa Romeo, alongside Valtteri Bottas, but has largely answered his critics with solid performances on the track.
After scoring a point in his debut race in Bahrain with a 10th-place finish, Zhou has added more at stops in Canada and Italy, and an eighth place in Montreal was his best of the season.
And with the team chasing sixth position in the constructors’ championship, the 23-year-old said he would “leave it all out there” at the Yas Marina Circuit on Sunday.
“When I signed the deal there were lots of questions from fans who had not been following my journey, and you feel a lot of pressure,” Zhou said.
“There was a lot of effort in preseason testing, I think being in the points in Bahrain on my debut was the best reward I could get from the part of the season.
