China’s racing driver Zhou Guanyu prepares for the Macau Grand Prix in Macau in 2017. Zhou was signed for F1 team Alfa Romeo for the 2022 F1 World Championship on Tuesday, making him the competition’s first Chinese driver. Photo: VCG

Zhou throws balls to prepare for the 2021 FIA Formula 2 Championship on June 6 in Baku, Azerbaijan. He had been selected by Ferrari Driver Academy when he was 14 and served as the development driver for Formula E team DS Techeetah in 2018. Photo: IC Photo

Zhou prepares for a race during the 2020 F1 Abu Dhabi test. In 2020, F1 team Renault appointed Zhou as the test driver for 2021’s racing games. Photo: VCG

Zhou gets in his car to compete in the qualifying of the 2021 FIA Formula 2 Championship on Sept. 10 in Monza, Italy. He is currently serving for UNI-Virtuosi Racing. Photo: IC Photo

Zhou (3) competes in round 5 of the 2021 FIA Formula 2 Championship on Sept. 12 in Monza, Italy. Photo: VCG

Zhou (3) leads round 4 of the Silverstone feature race of the Formula 2 Championship on July 18 in Northampton, U.K., making him claim the third personal championship of the F2 season. Photo: VCG

Zhou walks from his car after retiring during sprint race 2 of round 3 of the Formula 2 Championship in Baku, Azerbaijan, on June 5. Photo: VCG

Zhou chats with Brazil’s Pedro Piquet (left) of Van Amersfoort Racing and India’s Jehan Daruvala of Carlin Motorsport during the FIA Formula 3 European Championship in Norisring, Germany in 2017. Photo: VCG

Zhou celebrates after winning round 4 of the Silverstone feature race of the Formula 2 Championship on July 18 in the U.K. Photo: VCG

Zhou, who claimed silver in the sprint race of the 2020 Spa-Francorchamps FIA Formula 2, lifts the trophy on the podium to celebrate his victory in August 2020 in Belgium. Photo: VCG