Alfa Romeo driver Zhou Guanyu says he's going to try and take on the Red Bulls at the start of the Hungarian Grand Prix, though admits staying in front thereafter will be difficult.

The Chinese driver has Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez for company at the start of the Hungarian Grand Prix this afternoon, with the two Red Bulls just in front of his P12 start.

Certainly, you can expect the Dutchman and Mexican to climb the field this afternoon, even if the Hungaroring is a difficult place to overtake, but at the start anything can happen and Zhou is looking forward to battling it out with them on the long run down from the start into turn one.

Asked by Give Me Sport how he'd look to duke it out with the two Red Bulls, he said:

"I will do whatever I can!

"I will try to gain position. Every driver, no matter what car they are in, [we're] still racing with them. Of course, Red Bull have a bigger pace advantage but I think lap one is about gaining as much position as possible and then managing my race because their pace in the race realistically will be much stronger so let's see if we can get them on the start."

BUDAPEST, HUNGARY - JULY 30: Zhou Guanyu of China driving the (24) Alfa Romeo F1 C42 Ferrari in the Pitlane during final practice ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Hungary at Hungaroring on July 30, 2022 in Budapest, Hungary. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

Max Verstappen finds himself in P10 after a power deficit issue struck in Q3 whilst Sergio Perez is in P11 after a difficult session on Saturday.

Both men will have eyes on working their way up the field but drivers like Zhou are ready to give them a hard time in the opening stages, and it means we're set up for a really thrilling opening few laps.