Journalist believes Spanish GP was ‘really aggressive’ driver’s best race in Formula 1 so far

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Journalists Tom Clarkson and Natalie Pinkham have praised Zhou Guanyu for his race performance at the Spanish Grand Prix.

Speaking on the F1 Nation podcast, the journalists looked back on an interesting race in Barcelona.

Max Verstappen once again led the race with another fantastic performance.

He wasn’t challenged throughout the weekend and extended his lead in the Drivers’ Championship.

Drama at the first chicane cost Lando Norris after he tagged Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes.

There was another incident at the same corner later in the race that had a big impact on Zhou Guanyu’s race.

The Chinese driver was tussling with Yuki Tsunoda and was adjudged to have been forced wide by the AlphaTauri driver.

Tsunoda picked up a penalty after the race meaning Zhou finished in ninth, and Clarkson suggested the Spanish GP was his best F1 drive so far.

Considering it was his 29^th entry in Formula 1, the number 24 can be very pleased with his performance.

Spanish GP Zhou’s best F1 race

Speaking about the 24-year-old’s outing on Sunday, Pinkham said: “You have to say for Alfa Romeo it’s been a somewhat disappointing season.

“I know Zhou [Guanyu] had a great race in Barcelona and was overjoyed by his result there but it hasn’t been the most straightforward of seasons.

“It feels like last year’s car, it doesn’t just feel like it, it’s the fact, that last year’s car was quicker than this year’s car. So that must be disappointing for them overall but glimmers of hope and light coming from Barcelona.”

Tom Clarkson added: “As you say Zhou Guanyu’s P9 in Spain was a really aggressive race.

“I would say it’s actually Zhou’s best race in Formula 1 so far.”

Zhou has only scored 10 points in his entire Formula 1 career up to this point.

He’s not been helped by a sub-par Alfa Romeo car that even veteran Valtteri Bottas has found difficult to drive.

After scoring two points at the Spanish Grand Prix, Zhou needs to finish one more race in ninth place to match his tally from last season.

He’s got plenty of time to reach that milestone and his performances appear to be on an upward trajectory.