Giovinazzi still in dark over Alfa Romeo F1 future amid Zhou rumours

Alfa Romeo announced it had signed Valtteri Bottas on Monday to replace the retiring Kimi Raikkonen, leaving the identity of who will partner the Finn next season as the biggest remaining question mark heading into 2022. 

Giovinazzi is out of contract at the end of the year and Alfa Romeo is no longer contractually obliged to field a Ferrari Academy Driver member in its line-up.

There is growing talk that Alpine junior and Formula 2 frontrunner Guanyu Zhou is firmly in the frame for the seat, while other drivers including Nyck de Vries have been linked, though the newly-crowned Formula E world champion’s ties to Mercedes could prove problematic.

Speaking ahead of his home race, the Italian Grand Prix, Giovinazzi stressed he has not been given any indications about his future yet.

“Nothing yet - I have no news yet, I just knew that Valtteri will be in Alfa next year but from my side, no news yet,” said the Italian.

Asked whether there is a deadline for the decision, Giovinazzi replied: “Not really to be honest. Of course I want to know as soon as possible but it’s not my decision.

“I’ve said this many times already, I know there is a lot of rumours but it is not my decision.

“So my focus is more on my performance, to do my best result in the race, in the qualifying and everything and then see what will happen.”

Giovinazzi has faced uncertainty over his future in each of his three campaigns in F1 due to the nature of his year-by-year deals.

“For sure it’s always been the same September from my side over these last three years,” he explained. “There was always some rumours for the next year.

“For me, I don’t want to focus much on these because it’s just losing energy. I want to focus more on performance on myself and try to do my best.

“Like I say many times, it is not my decision and whatever happens will happen. My target is to be happy with myself and see what will happen.”

A puncture ruined Giovinazzi’s chance of a points finish at Zandvoort following his best-ever qualifying result to take seventh on the grid.

Despite only scoring one point so far in 2021 with P10 in Monaco, Giovinazzi is happy with his efforts this year.

“I’m not the person that I will give a vote to myself but to be honest I’m really happy with my quali compared to Kimi,” he said.

“In the race we were a little bit unlucky many times to be honest with pit stops and everything. But yeah, for myself I’m doing my best and therefore I’m pretty happy with my development.

“From last year and compared to two years ago as well, so I’m really happy with myself and I will continue to give 110 percent to do give the best result to the team and then we will see what will happen.”