Valtteri Bottas has backed his Alfa Romeo teammate Zhou Guanyu to shine in his second F1 season this yr.
Zhou Guanyu grew to become the primary Chinese language driver in F1 when he made the leap from F2 in 2022 to take the place of Antonio Giovinazzi. He was paired with the skilled Valtteri Bottas, who left Mercedes after a five-year spell to fill the seat vacated by retired former world champion Kimi Raikkonen.
The Finn took on the position of mentor because the pair labored nicely in tandem to carry Alfa Romeo to sixth within the Constructors’ Championship standings in 2022. Whereas Bottas did a lot of the heavy lifting within the factors division, his teammate completed within the factors on three events, together with his debut in Bahrain final yr.
Zhou Guanyu was additionally concerned in a death-defying crash at Silverstone however was capable of emerge from the incident unscathed.
Heading into the season opener in Sakhir later this week, Valtteri Bottas believes Zhou Guanyo has grown and advanced as a driver. In an interview with Whole Motorsport, he mentioned:
“It’s been good to see his improvement curve has been fairly steep from the start of final yr. He grew to become virtually like a special driver in a means. [He’s become] rather more assured in his driving, suggestions, racing, and qualifying, so he had a very good rookie season total.
“He made only a few errors and bought some factors as nicely. Little question he’s going to get far more factors this yr, and he’s going to be a very good teammate to battle with for positive.”
Nonetheless, the first goal for the pair is to work as a group and see if they will discover extra improved performances with the Alfa Romeo C43 this time round.
The 33-year-old went on so as to add:
“However the principle factor is we can work nicely collectively like final yr. So I’m trying ahead to it. I believe he has been confirmed all through final yr that he belongs in F1, and clearly, this yr is one other check for the motive force. [But] I’ve no issues, [he’ll] be superb.”
Valtteri Bottas aiming to return to the rostrum with Alfa Romeo in 2023
Valtteri Bottas is eager to return to the F1 podium once more in his second season with Alfa Romeo.
The Finnish driver had a profitable stint at Mercedes alongside Lewis Hamilton earlier than shifting to Sauber final season. Whereas he loved a run of constructive outcomes at the beginning of the season, the spotlight of which was a P5 end at Imola, the group’s efficiency dipped because the marketing campaign continued.
Now in his second yr with the Zurich-based outfit, Valtteri Bottas is hoping to enhance his and the group’s performances in 2023.
Whereas chatting with Reuters through the launch occasion of the Alfa Romeo C43, the 33-year-old mentioned:
“The purpose for this season is to complete increased than final yr and to be rather more constant. Final yr we had too many ups and downs. Additionally, secretly, I all the time dream of ending on the rostrum, so let’s have a look at.”
Bottas has not been on the rostrum because the 2021 F1 Saudi Arabian GP again when he was driving for Mercedes. It will be no imply feat if he have been to search out his means again there with Alfa Romeo this yr.