First Chinese racer in F1 history: Zhou Guanyu's inspiring journey over the years

By bringing F1 to China and achieving milestones that seemed impossible, Zhou has significantly inspired the younger generations in his homeland and continues to pursue his childhood dreams with determination and style. This is prepared by SSP.

Historical Achievement

Zhou Guanyu made history by becoming the first Chinese driver in the Formula One World Championship, which has seen 776 drivers over its 74-year existence. His debut with Kick Sauber (formerly Alfa Romeo) in 2022 marked a significant milestone for China in this prestigious sport. Initially thwarted by a pandemic-induced suspension of the Chinese Grand Prix, Zhou finally raced in front of his home crowd in Shanghai earlier this year, where he finished 14th in an unforgettable race weekend attended by approximately 60,000 fans daily.

Chasing Dreams

Zhou’s journey began in karting at age eight. He moved from China to Sheffield, England, at 12 to join the Strawberry Racing Karting team, where he won several titles. He later progressed to the Ferrari Driver Academy and moved through junior series like Formula Three and Formula Two before signing a multi-year contract with Alfa Romeo in 2021, partnering with Valtteri Bottas.

Ups and Downs

Zhou had a commendable start in F1, scoring points in his debut 2022 Bahrain race. Despite challenging seasons marred by technical issues and a harrowing crash at Silverstone, Zhou claimed points on multiple occasions and achieved two fastest laps. Remarkably, he attributes his survival in the Silverstone crash to the halo protection device.

Fighting for the Future

As Sauber transitions to become Audi in 2026, Zhou's future in F1 hangs in the balance, largely dependent on the moves of Carlos Sainz. Despite Sauber's struggles and Zhou's fit with the new Imola chassis, he remains optimistic about his prospects. Zhou states that he's shown enough progress in driving ability, preparation, and team communication to secure a future seat, possibly even at Alpine.

Personal Achievements

Off the track, Zhou is known for his fashion style, often drawing comparisons to Lewis Hamilton. His race car, featuring the number 24, honors his sports hero Kobe Bryant. Zhou's optimistic outlook persists as he continues to improve his qualifying goings and seeks to realize further ambitions in F1.

Home Racing Glory

Zhou fulfilled his dream of racing on home soil amid an energized crowd in Shanghai, describing it as his career's most emotional and proud moment. While 2024 could potentially mark the end of his F1 journey, Zhou remains hopeful of achieving more and possibly extending his experience in the sport.