Zhou, who is the first and onl✅y Chinese driver to race in F1, will continue with the Hinwil-based outfit for a third season alongside Bottas, who was already signed up for next year. 

The 24-year-old currently sits🎐 16th in the drivers’ championship and is just two points behind Bottas.

There had been suggestions that Zhou could lose his Alfa Romeo ♒seat due to a lack of funding, with the likes of Felipe Drugovich and Sauber junior Theo Pourchaire linked as possible replacem🌱ents. 

Pourchaire, who leads th🎉e Formula 2 championship heading into the final round, has been confirmed as Alfa Romeo’s reserve driver for next season.

“Signing again with the team is always a great feeling, especially when we know how things are shaping up,” Zh🅘ou said.

“I am proud to be part of Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake and grateful for their trust: I have been working extremely hard since day one and 🅷there is an incredible level of motivation to keep doing sꦚo every day forward. 

“My relationship w💞ith Valtteri is really good, and we are working closely together and with the team to push everyone forward.” 

Confirma🃏tion of Zhou’s contract renewal means he will take part in his home race when the Chinese Grand Prix return♛s after a three-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I am also very excited about the opportunity to finally race with my team in China, ꦅin front of my home crowd,” he added. 

“It will be a great moment and I’m proud to be able to share it with all those who h༒ave supported me.”

Alfa Romeo team representative Alessandro Alunni Bravi said: “The dec💛ision to continue our journey with our driver line-up unchanged is testamꦇent to the investment we have made in our project. 

“Nothing in Formula One changes overnight, and we have taken a con🦋scious decision to focus on stability and to keep building our team up together as we embark on an importan♋t period of transition. 

“Valtteri and Zhou are drivers of known talent and ski♛ll and they work really well toge🎃ther: they are well-matched and can push each other. Valtteri has taken a real leader’s role within the team, pushing us all to give our best; Zhou has made impressive steps forward in the last two years and we expect him to continue on this trajectory in 2024. 

“Now the baton is back to us – we have to gi🍌ve both drivers a good 💯car and put them in the best conditions to perform.”