The month of September began with frantic movement in the driver’s market for the 2022 season. Almost two weeks after Alfa Romeo announced Valtteri Bottas as their driver for next year, the Italian outfit only need to confirm their second seat. Although Antonio Giovinazzi looks to be improving, Chinese driver Guanyu Zhou is his biggest threat.

And according to recent reports, only one aspect stands between the 22-year-old and an F1 drive next season.

F1 super license currently halts Guanyu Zhou from 2022 drive

Over the last few years, Zhou enjoyed steady growth in Formula racing. Since joining the Alpine academy in 2019, the Chinese driver finished seventh in the 2019 F2 championship, and followed it up with a sixth-place finish last year. This season, he sits second in F2, 15 points behind Oscar Piastri.

In addition, he also got his first experience in an F1 car earlier this year, when he took part in the first practice session at the Austrian Grand Prix, replacing Fernando Alonso. To compete in F1, every driver needs a super license which they gain through a points system. Currently, Zhou has 29 points out of the 40 required to gain that license.

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18 of those points come from his finishes in the previous F2 championships, while 10 came from his victory in the F3 Asia series late last year. He also gained another point by taking part in FP1 at the Red Bull Ring. He only needs a fifth place finish in F2 this season to get the required points.

The issue he might face difficulties getting those points before tests in December. This is because he would need to secure fifth mathematically before those tests, which might not happen despite three races left.

The F1 Points System Explained

Force Majeure rule could help Zhou get a super license in time

After COVID-19 affected the sport, the FIA introduced a rule where in extreme situations, they would consider drivers accumulating 30 points for a super license. Hence, Zhou would only need to finish 10th in the ongoing F2 championship to procure his super license.

While Zhou looks to get the job done, Alfa Romeo Team Principal Frederic Vasseur mentioned him as a prime candidate mainly because of his talent.

As quoted by Motorsport, he said, “Zhou is doing a good job in F2. For sure he is on the list, and not just for a matter of nationality. He is one of the big favorites to take the title in F2, he has won races and I think every single team in F1 is watching his path.”

Could we see the end of Giovinazzi‘s time with Alfa Romeo this year? Or is there some hope left for the Italian?

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