Zhou Guanyu, born on May 30, 1999, in Shanghai, is a prominent Chinese racing driver who has made significant strides in the world of motorsport. He began his journey in karting at the tender age of eight, showcasing his talent early on. In 2012, Zhou relocated to Sheffield to pursue international competition, marking the beginning of his ascent through the ranks of racing.
His career took a notable turn in 2014 when he graduated to junior formulae, finishing as the runner-up in the 2015 Italian F4 Championship. After three competitive seasons in the FIA Formula 3 European Championship, Zhou also took on a development driver role in Formula E for Techeetah during the 2017-2018 season. His impressive performance led him to compete in the FIA Formula 2 Championship from 2019 to 2021, where he concluded his final season in third place while driving for Virtuosi.
Zhou's affiliations with prestigious driver academies, including the Ferrari Driver Academy from 2014 to 2018 and the Alpine Academy from 2019 to 2021, further solidified his reputation in the racing community. He served as a test driver for Renault and Alpine in 2020 and 2021, respectively, honing his skills and preparing for a future in Formula One.
In 2022, Zhou signed with Alfa Romeo, partnering with Valtteri Bottas. He made an impressive debut at the Bahrain Grand Prix, scoring his first career point. Throughout the 2023 season, he continued to demonstrate his prowess, achieving points finishes in Australia, Spain, and Qatar. In 2024, he remained with the rebranded Sauber team, where he secured the team's only points finish with the C44 at the Qatar Grand Prix, concluding his Formula One career with two fastest laps and a total of sixteen championship points.