Zhou joins Alfa Romeo, a contract that opens the Chinese market to F1
For 2022, Alfa Romeo has decided to completely change its pair of drivers. It is with the arrival of Valtteri Bottas and then the young Guanyu Zhou that the team hopes to relaunch itself. But Zhou's contract also allows Formula 1 to get closer to the Chinese market.
Alfa Romeo appears to have made a good financial deal during the transfer market for the year 2022. The arrival of Guanyu Zhou has allowed the Italian team to attract new sponsors. This significant financial contribution for Alfa Romeo could also extend beyond F1, with European companies wanting to enter the Chinese market.
« You know, the first feeling is alright, I’m going to enter the Chinese market, but I think it’s quite ambitious, quite difficult. We had some contacts right after the announcement, mainly with European companies that want to enter the Chinese market. », Fred Vasseur, team principal of Alfa Romeo, tells.
This positive consequence of Zhou’s arrival at Alfa Romeo is not the only one. Formula 1 has always tried to attract the Chinese audience, especially with the first Grand Prix in Shanghai almost two decades ago. A Grand Prix that had only interested a small part of China. But this time, it might be an opportunity to attract a larger portion of the audience with the arrival of the first Chinese driver in F1.
« I don’t do the work for F1 or for the other teams. I also think that this will mean a huge opportunity for F1, for each team, but the exposure will explode. It will be a “big bang” for the system. We must take advantage of it as an opportunity for everyone. But we must avoid misunderstandings, the ultimate goal is always performance. », explains Vasseur.
Alf Romeo hopes to perform well in 2022 with its new duo of drivers and the introduction of new regulations.
