Zhou knows ‘world is watching’ but wants to ‘talk on track’

New Alfa Romeo driver Guanyu Zhou said he knows the world is watching but wants to do his talking on the track as he prepares for his debut season in Formula 1. 

Zhou was brought in to replace Antonio Giovinazzi in the Alfa seat in an off-season that also saw ex-Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas fill the boots of the retiring Kimi Raikkonen.

Expectation is high on the Chinese driver after Giovinazzi speculated that it was money rather than talent that saw him lose his seat.

Zhou, set to be China’s first-ever fully fledged Formula 1 driver, is understood to be bringing a big sponsorship package with him to Alfa Romeo.

But the 22-year-old says he hopes to do his talking on track.

“Of course there will always be pressure when you become a Formula 1 driver, knowing all the world is watching you, watching any mistake you’re making,” he told Gazzetta dello Sport.

“So you have to try to make as few mistakes as possible and try to talk on track. I think that’s the most important part. But of course joining Alfa Romeo, such an historic brand that has so much pressure in Formula 1, I think it’s very good.

“Having the people working behind you, I think they really have the [right] spirit and you got to do well too.”

Here it is! My helmet for the 2022 season. 2⃣4⃣ #TeamZHOU #BellHelmets pic.twitter.com/TGSweT3MD3

— 周冠宇 | Guanyu Zhou (@GuanyuZhou24) February 27, 2022

While Zhou said his main target for his rookie season was to learn as much as possible, he also admitted he was aiming for points.

He added: “My target firstly I think is, you know, to learn as much as possible, especially in the first part of the season, to put my feet into the Formula 1 world and then build up my momentum, build up my experience in this scenario.

“But in