‘Dream come true’ for China’s first F1 driver

Zhou Guanyu says he will be fulfilling the dreams of the nation’s motorsport fans when he becomes the first Chinese driver to make it onto the Formula One starting grid at the season-opening race in Bahrain this Sunday.

The 22-year-old is racing for Ferrari-powered Alfa Romeo in an all-new lineup that includes Valtteri Bottas, the Finn who was team-mate to seven-times world champion Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes last year. Zhou will be the sole rookie in the championship this season.

“From my side to become the first Chinese driver is something I dreamed of,” Zhou told Reuters. “I think our country’s motorsport fans dreamed of having one countryman represent them and it’s my goal I have been working over the years for that.”

Zhou, who was part of Renault-owned Alpine’s driver academy and finished third last year in feeder series Formula Two, fell in love with the sport when China hosted a grand prix for the first time in 2004.

“There’s plenty of eyes (that) will be watching, plenty of people will be supporting,” he said. “But of course from my side there will be plenty of pressure as well.”

China has become an increasingly vital market for F1. The country’s race will be absent for the third year in a row this season due to the Covid-19 but F1 has extended its contract with the Shanghai circuit until 2025. There has also long been talk of a second race in the country. (Reuters)