By Dan Turner
Rookie Review – Part 2 – 2022 edition
We’re six races into the new F1 season, so what better time than for W2W to look at how F1’s newest stars are performing in motorsport’s elite formula.
Zhou Guanyu – Alfa Romeo
The one and only true rookie of the season, Zhou joins F1 fresh from three years in F2, where 4 wins, 1 pole and 9 podiums took him to 3rd in the standings. Whilst no stranger to driving a F1 car, having tested numerous times for both Alpine and Renault, Zhou enters F1 as the first ever full time Chinese driver.
The Hinwil outfit have opted for a classic pairing of rookie and experience, having snapped up outgoing Mercedes driver Valterri Bottas for the new season on a multi year contract. Whilst Zhou impressed on debut to score points with a 10th place finish in Bahrain, his performances have been somewhat disappointing since, twice narrowly missing out on a top 10 finish and a double DNF in Miama and Spain. All while his experienced teammate has scored points in 5 out of the last 6 races.
Such a pairing is likely to take some time to yield consistent results. However, the team will be hoping for an improvement in their fortunes going forward, particularly given the competitiveness of their car in the midfield where 5th place in the constructors championship is the likely target. Performances aside, Zhou’s signing will no doubt help grow the sports interest and popularity in China.
Alex Albon – Williams
The first of two returners to the grid this season, Albon joins the prestigious Williams team following a year on the sidelines, after making way for Sergio Perez at Red Bull.
A somewhat surprising choice given his close ties to the Milton Keynes outfit, his signing will serve to give him race experience, all while helping to progress the team forward following an improved 8th place finish in the constructors championship in 2021. He has big shoes to fill though (quite literally!) in replacing the outgoing George Russell, whose excellent performances in a largely uncompetitive car bagged him a seat in the sports top team. Just go back and watch his qualifying lap in Spa!
Sadly, it’s looking like another difficult season for the Grove outfit. However, the team have looked competitive in spells thanks to Albon’s notable performances in both Australia (pitting once on the very last lap to finish 10th) and Miami, finishing a respectable 9th. The refreshed driver is already consistently outperforming his teammate Nicholas Latifi, who is surely under pressure to retain his seat for next season. His performances are no doubt under the watchful eye of Horner et al, should, if or when a seat appears at the sharp end of the grid.
Kevin Magnussen – Haas F1
Oh to be Kevin Magnussen in 2022. Whilst going about his preparations for the upcoming World Endurance Championship, he gets the call of a lifetime to return to the American team as a last minute pairing for Mick Schumacher. A blessing in disguise, perhaps?
Anyway, as if his comeback to F1 isn’t remarkable enough, he pulled out an exceptional performance following a year out to finish 5th in the season opener. Two other points finishes have followed, in what is unquestionably an improved Haas car following the misery that was 2021.
Magnussen has already established himself as the experienced lead driver of the team given Schumacher’s disappointing performances thus far, despite coming agonisingly close to scoring his first F1 points. The team will be hoping for more impressive Bahrain-like drives for the rest of the season from both drivers as they try to move up the grid in this new era of F1.
The F1 circus moves on to Monaco this weekend. Stay tuned for upcoming articles as W2W gears up for a return to the principality.
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