Formula 1: Should Guanyu Zhou also lose his seat?

The only Formula 1 rookie in 2022, Guanyu Zhou has already created history by being named China’s first full-time driver. But before he even gets on the racetrack, some are asking if he should be banned.

On Sunday, March 20, 2022, Guanyu Zhou will become China’s first-ever full-time Formula 1 driver when he takes part in the season opener in Bahrain.

But even before he gets there, there have been questions about his presence in the driver lineup, especially after what happened with Nikita Mazpein.

With the termination of the Russian driver’s contract by Haas following his country’s invasion of Ukraine, some are questioning if Zhou really belongs in his seat, due to China’s atrocious human rights record.

Although Mazepin’s termination was angled mopre around the fact that Haas split ties with their title sponsor, Uralkali, whose Deputy Chairman is Dmitry Mazepin, Nikita’s father, it was pretty clear to see what else led to it.

All of this took place after the FIA made it clear that Russian and Belarusian drivers would be allowed to continue to compete in international motorsport as long as they raced under a neutral flag and agreed not to express any kind of support of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

This compounds the matter surrounding Zhou. Amid the Mazepin fallout, should he keep his seat?

Every driver who has the privilege of driving in a Formula 1 race faces questions. But should a person’s nationality really come in the way of being allowed to race, especially if the actions which their country has carried out have nothing to do with them, directly or indirectly?

Haas’s decision to terminate Mazepin’s contract was not justified, just as it would not be justified if Alfa Romeo made the decision to cut Zhou; he deserves to be a part of Formula 1, on and off the track.

Unfortunately, this isn’t the first time that some have called for Zhou to lose his seat. When Alfa Romeo announced the rookie as the driver who will partner with the experienced Valtteri Bottas in 2022, social media erupted with claims of him being a pay driver. He has been dogged with those claims, despite not having yet made a start.

Whether or not Zhou deserved to replace a fan favorite, Antonio Giovinazzi, is up for debate, but when a two-time Formula 1 world champion speaks highly of someone, it sure means that person has something to offer.

Fernando Alonso was “extremely happy” for Zhou and talked about his “good relationship” with him. This relationship started due to Zhou being a part of the Alpine Academy. When Alonso was making his comeback and testing his old Renault, Zhou was there with him in Bahrain and Abu Dhabi.

But when Alfa Romeo team principal Fred Vasseur signed Bottas, many expected someone such as Oscar Piastri to fill the second seat. The latter had an incredible championship-winning season last year in Formula 2. Callum Ilott’s name was also mentioned, considering his impressive showing as their reserve driver.

With Ferrari no longer controlling the second Alfa Romeo seat, which had long become the launching pad for the Scuderia drivers such as Giovinazzi and Charles Leclerc, Haas driver Mick Schumacher was not considered.

In the end, it was Zhou who got the seat.

And if Alfa Romeo now decide to judge Zhou based on his country’s actions, that would be a terrible shame. If so, then the FIA should also stop hosting races and striking deals with countries that have no regard for human rights; there are several countries on the calendar which have terrible human rights records. On a race track, things such as nationality cease to exist. The only things that exist are the car and the driver behind the wheel.