Zhou had the opportunity to develop further in his second year with the Hinwil team after a challenging rookie season. He has proven his worth by delivering more reliable and self-assured performances during the first half of the 2023 season.
Despite Alfa Romeo’s underwhelming car performance, Zhou remains determined to make a name for himself and plans to utilize the August break to negotiate a new contract.
Zhou expressed the need for a clear understanding before summer concludes. It is necessary to determine the steps required to document and accomplish everything. Zhou mentioned that their manager is currently in discussions with the team, so they need to wait and see.
At this point last year, I was more anxious compared to now as I sense that the team is highly satisfied with our accomplishments. I am simply maintaining my work approach as before.
I believe that events will unfold, but it requires some time to comprehend them. I am quite content with the situation and the individuals I have been collaborating with, thus I am very eager to continue in the future.
“My priority is trying to stay here. After two years I really feel I’m settled well within the team.”
Alfa languishes in ninth place in the standings among an extremely competitive midfield, but Zhou has been matching his much more experienced team-mate Valtteri Bottas, which has not gone unnoticed in the Sauber-run team.
Zhou Guanyu, Alfa Romeo C43
Photo by: Alfa Romeo
Zhou was asked by Motorsport.com if the team or himself had set that target. In response, he stated that it was a combination of both. He aims to match his own pace and the team also anticipates him to make further progress compared to the previous year.
However, there are certain areas of weakness that I aimed to enhance compared to last year, and I believe we have been making progress in that regard. Besides those aspects, the overall performance has significantly improved.
“I cannot reword.”
“The outcome of the race is influenced by various factors such as the package, luck, and strategy. However, overall, I believe I have met my initial goal for the year, which was to be on par with my benchmark, Valtteri. I have accomplished that and it appears to be satisfying the team, so I am not overly concerned about what lies ahead.”
With Bottas already signed up for next year, the team’s managing director Alessandro Alunni Bravi said he was keen to continue with a stable driver line-up for 2024.
“Undoubtedly, we have consistently emphasized the significance of stability,” he clarified. “As a team undergoing a transformation, we strive to maintain stability in every aspect.”
After the summer shutdown, there will be an opportunity to meet with Zhou and discuss the most optimal resolution for both parties. Our goal is to retain both drivers in our team for the upcoming year. However, it is essential to ensure that all necessary conditions are met in order to achieve a mutually beneficial outcome.
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