Zhou Guanyu

When moving from Shanghai to Sheffield at the age of 12, Zhou Guanyu only ever had one dream, and that was to become China’s first Formula 1 driver.

After going through the academies of Ferrari and Alpine during his junior single-seater career, Zhou has found himself a home at Alfa Romeo, when he'll officially join the F1 grid for 2022.

The Chinese star’s breakthrough year came in 2019 when he made the step up to Formula 2, ending the season as the highest scoring rookie. Marked a title favourite for 2020, Zhou’s second season in F2 got off to a tough start, but a turning point arrived in Round 10 at Sochi, where he finally clinched his first victory.

He carried this form over into 2021, where the anticipated Championship challenged transpired. Four wins and a further five podiums convinced Alfa Romeo Team Principal Fred Vasseur to sign Zhou for 2022 as part of a new-look line-up alongside ex-Mercedes racer Valtteri Bottas.