Virtuosi's Zhou Guanyu finished third to claim his second podium in the FIA Formula 2 sprint race at Monaco on Sunday.

Zhou and Artem Markelov joined Hubert and Deletraz in racing away in the early stages. It was clear Markelov – driving for MP Motorsport, was faster but rookie Zhou defended brilliantly.

Zhou raced from 16th to fifth in the first race and bettered that with his second F2 podium, right on the leaders' tail at the flag.

It was his second podium during his rookie season. His first completion of the podium came earlier this month in Barcelona, which made him the first Chinese racer to make the podium in Formula 2.

The 19-year-old Zhou spent the last three seasons in European Formula 3, winning twice and finishing eighth in the standings in 2018 while driving for Prema. Currently a development drive at the Renault Sports Academy, he spends a lot of time in between races at Renault's facilities to work in their race simulator.

Anthoine Hubert became the season's first rookie winner by the finest of margins in the race. The Frenchman survived a late attack from second-placed Louis Deletraz whose front wings was just inches behind the BWT Arden's at the checkered flag.

For more on Zhou: Guanyu Zhou becomes the first Chinese racer to make the F2 podium

Adding a Chinese touch to 1,000th F1 Grand Prix in Shanghai