2011 FIA Formula Two runner-up Christopher Zanella has his sights firmly set on championship victory and the Williams F1 prize test after confirming he is to return to the series in 2012.
The 22-year-old Swiss racer produced an outstanding maiden season last year with two wins and seven podiums to secure second place in the standings, which secured eligibility for an FIA Super Licence required to compete in Formula One.
Prior to F2, Zanella quickly established himself as one of his country's leading motorsport talents starting with victory in the Formula Renault 2.0 Switzerland Championship in 2008, whilst he also competed in selected Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 races. From here he graduated to Formula Three in the Euro Series with the Motopark Academy team and claimed his first podium finish at the final round in Hockenheim in 2009.
He continued to race occasionally in the F3 Euro Series in 2010 alongside a full campaign in the Italian Formula 3 Championship, where he finished sixth overall, before making the step up to F2 in 2011.
Zanella said: "I'm really looking forward to this season and have been working hard over the winter to prepare. It's going to be really tough though as I finished second last year so I have to win this season. I have an advantage over some of the drivers because I have more experience but I still have to adapt to the new tyres and brakes of the upgraded F2 car."
He added: "I would love to get my hands on the Williams F1 test, like any aspiring F1 driver. It would be a dream come true."
Formula Two Series Director Jonathan Palmer said: "I'm delighted to welcome Christopher back to F2. He impressed me enormously by recording his maiden podium at Silverstone in only his second race, and from 10th on the grid. He followed that up with a standout double victory in Magny-Cours before going on to score four more consecutive podiums to become Mirko Bortolotti's main title rival. With his experience in F2, Christopher will undoubtedly be one of the favourites for the title and the Williams F1 test this year."
Christopher Zanella aims for F2 title and F1 prize test
- Published on 27 Mar 2012 16:06
-
0
- By: Rob Veenstra
.
Trending news
-
Lance Stroll Just Overtook Alain Prost in F1 HistoryLance Stroll has surpassed Alain Prost in career Grand Prix starts, reaching 200 races at the Hungarian Grand Prix. T...
29 Jul 2026 15:08 -
Russell: "I wouldn't wish this on anyone"George Russell's championship challenge has been undermined by another mechanical failure, this time an anti-stal...
29 Jul 2026 16:09 -
The Zandvoort record Verstappen can equalMax Verstappen can equal a historic Zandvoort record held by one of Formula 1's greatest drivers if he wins the D...
29 Jul 2026 14:06 -
Why Juan Pablo Montoya thinks Sepang suits Max VerstappenMax Verstappen could benefit from the return of the Sepang circuit to the Formula 1 calendar, according to Juan Pablo...
29 Jul 2026 13:05 -
How an FIA technical fault triggered the blue flag chaos in HungaryThe widespread blue flag confusion that marred the Hungarian Grand Prix was caused by a technical fault in the FIA...
29 Jul 2026 12:04
Azerbaijan Grand Prix
Local time
-
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Azerbaijan Grand Prix
Local time
-
Friday
-
Saturday
-
Sunday
-
Friday
-
Saturday
-
Sunday
Test calendar
Circuit de Catalunya - Winter testing
-
Jan 26
I. Hadjar
- 1:18.159
-
-
-
Jan 27
M. Verstappen
- 1:19.578
-
-
-
Jan 28
A. Antonelli
- 1:17.362
-
-
-
Jan 29
G. Russell
- 1:16.445
-
-
-
Jan 30
L. Hamilton
- 1:16.348
-
-
Bahrain International Circuit - Winter testing
-
Feb 11
L. Norris
- 1:34.669
-
-
-
Feb 12
C. Leclerc
- 1:34.273
-
-
-
Feb 13
A. Antonelli
- 1:33.669
-
-
Bahrain International Circuit - Winter testing
-
Feb 18
G. Russell
- 1:33.459
-
-
Feb 19
A. Antonelli
- 1:32.803
-
-
Feb 20
C. Leclerc
- 1:31.992
-
-
World Championship standings 2026
Pos
Driver
Team
Points
Pos
Team
Points
Related news
Give your opinion!
Formula 1 Calendar - 2026
Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Spain
-
Bahrain
-
Bahrain
Formula 1 Calendar - 2026
Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
-
Spain
Circuit de Catalunya
-
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
-
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
6 - Mar 8
Australia
Albert Park
13 - Mar 15
27 - Mar 29
Japan
Circuit Suzuka
10 - Apr 12
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
17 - Apr 19
Saudi Arabia
Jeddah Street Circuit
1 - May 3
United States of America
Miami International Autodrome
22 - May 24
Canada
Gilles Villeneuve
5 - Jun 7
Monaco
Monte Carlo
12 - Jun 14
Spain
Circuit de Catalunya
26 - Jun 28
Austria
Red Bull Ring
3 - Jul 5
United Kingdom
Silverstone
17 - Jul 19
Belgium
Spa-Francorchamps
24 - Jul 26
Hungary
Hungaroring
Team profile
- Team name Renault
- Base Enstone, France
- Fernando Alonso 1
- Daniel Ricciardo 3
- Fernando Alonso 5
- Fernando Alonso 5
- Fernando Alonso 7
- Romain Grosjean 8
- Fernando Alonso 8
- Fernando Alonso 8
- Pastor Maldonado 13
- Jenson Button 15
- Kevin Magnussen 20
- Nico Hülkenberg 27
- Jolyon Palmer 30
- Esteban Ocon 31
- Carlos Sainz jr 55
- 236,941 comments on Renault
26 members have this team as their favourite
Tweets about Renault
Replies (0)
Login to reply