Amid uncertain future, China’s first F1 driver Zhou Guanyu still proud of his legacy
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Zhou Guanyu became China's first Formula One driver when he landed a seat with Alfa Romeo in 2022.
ST PHOTO: KUA CHEE SIONG
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SINGAPORE – As a child, racing fan Zhou Guanyu would often tune in to Formula One races at odd hours with the TV volume turned down as his parents were already asleep.
His room was covered with posters of his idol, two-time world champion Fernando Alonso, and the first helmet that Zhou owned was unsurprisingly a replica of the Spaniard’s.
Now competing in his third F1 season, the Sauber driver is making the same mark on fans in his home country.
The first Chinese driver to compete at the sport’s pinnacle in 2022, Zhou is hugely popular among local fans, as evidenced by the droves who turned out for the Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai in April to catch a glimpse of him.
Many of them were also wearing his helmet in the stands.
“I’m actually quite happy they have someone to watch but, then, also still grateful the person is me. On the other side, a lot of young generations, there are kids really starting go karting,” said Zhou in an interview with The Straits Times arranged by Marina Bay Sands Singapore.
“The racing atmosphere has just grown so much compared to how my generation was. It’s just getting better now, and I’m just really happy for that.”
While his future in F1 remains uncertain, with the 25-year-old yet to secure a seat for the 2025 season with seven more races remaining – including the Sept 20-22 Singapore Airlines Singapore Grand Prix – he remains proud of the legacy that he has left behind.
He is encouraged to see how the interest in motor sports and Formula One has grown in China in the past three years.
His F1 journey began when he left his Shanghai home town at age 12 to move to Sheffield, England, to continue his development with the Strawberry Racing Karting team, before making his way up the racing ladder.
Zhou said: “I’m just so grateful to be the first and only person to represent China and then also to have that much support over the years.
“For me, that’s a massive achievement besides my own dream. There’s definitely been races I wish I could do better, or wish some technical issues didn’t happen in my first year, when the car was really strong. But, then, these things always happen in racing.
“You always have a few races that you look back on and you’re gutted about but, overall, I’m just grateful to reach my childhood dream.”
Zhou Guanyu said that he is encouraged to see how the interest in motor sport and Formula One has grown in China in the past three years.
ST PHOTO: KUA CHEE SIONG
It has been a difficult season for his team Sauber, the only outfit who have yet to earn points this season and they are bottom of the constructors’ standings.
And the Swiss racing team appear to be ready to ring in the changes in the car, with team representative Alessandro Bravi saying ahead of last week’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix that Valtteri Bottas was “top of our list” for their second seat. With Germany’s Nico Hulkenberg joining the team, which will become Audi in 2026, this appeared to signal the end of Zhou’s time with them.
But Zhou, who has zero points in the drivers’ standings as do Bottas and Williams’ Logan Sargeant, feels he still has more to give.
In an earlier interview with the Daily Mail, he said: “I feel like there’s plenty more I can show to the paddock, to F1.
“If I don’t have a seat, I don’t think it’s the end... I still have the chance to come back and I will continue to work hard. Right now, I’m not thinking about what happens next.”
Instead, he remains focused on generating interest in motor sports in the region. One way he is hoping to achieve that is through his documentary, The First One, which chronicles his journey in the sport and was released in April.
The Singapore premiere will take place at Sands Expo & Convention Centre on Sept 19.
He said: “Formula One is very famous in Europe but, in Asia, especially in my country, people probably don’t have so much insight about it, about exactly what we do as a driver. All they can see is what’s shown on broadcast, on TV.
“So for the people who love racing, or are new in this sports to have a look, and maybe it’ll help them gain interest and become a hobby for their future. So, hopefully, that more people like it and motor sports becomes more famous in Asia.”
