Zhou Guanyu doubts Formula 1 will see many more Chinese drivers joining the series over the coming years despite his participation in the sport.
The Sauber driver will make history this weekend when he becomes the first Chinese driver to race in his home grand prix.Zhou is one of only two drivers from China, along with Ma Qinghua, to have ever participated in the world championship. Ma drove in Friday practice for Caterham at the 2013 round in Shanghai.
Now in his third season of F1, Zhou will finally get to race in his home grand prix this weekend. However he says that there are more obstacles for young Chinese drivers to overcome if they aspire to race in F1 compared to if they want to compete as athletes in other major sports.
“The biggest difference in motorsports or Formula 1 is that you don’t get too much of the country’s support behind [you],” Zhou said in today’s FIA press conference.
“Of course, to be an F1 driver, you need some financial support – that’s clear. But I don’t think in China we have enough families or people that have the budget and also… the interest that they can get involved in Formula 1.
“It takes a lot. It’s easy to be a racing driver as a hobby, but to take this professional journey, only 20 of us drivers here, it’s not an easy one. The amount of sacrifice and also the hard work behind the scenes for every individual driver to be there, it’s very complex. Also, it takes a lot of time.”
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Chinese society is still developing a motorsport culture, Zhou says.
“Probably this grand prix will be a record in terms of the tickets. It was sold out in like 20 or 30 minutes. It used to be that you could still always find a few seats two to three weeks before the race, so it’s never been like this before.
“But you really see the country is growing, but also it’s having some high inputs, having more companies, manufacturers starting being involved with different Formula 1 teams.”
Due to the fact that China’s motorsport culture is still developing, Zhou says he does not expect his arrival in Formula 1 to prompt an influx of more Chinese drivers onto the grid any time soon. There are no Chinese drivers in F2 or F3 this year, but the country’s F4 series is supporting this weekend’s race.
“I think to be able to have more [Chinese] drivers on this grid is going to be very difficult for the next five, ten years,” he said.
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“For example, a perfect example: Honda. They have this ‘Honda Dream Project’ and you have young drivers who get picked up from a very young age and that culture of motorsport in Japan is very high.
Racing in his 49th grand prix but his first in his home nation, Zhou says he wants to help inspire young Chinese racing prospects to aim for Formula 1 in the future.
“I’m happy to be kind of the role model in this country,” Zhou said. “But still, I think you need to put effort into that. Also having a lot of companies, manufacturers involved in helping the young generation, to guide them forward.
“But let’s see what I can do. Maybe when I retire from racing, I can help more, but at the moment, I’m just hoping to inspire some young people, and they can come a long way.”
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ferrox glideh (@ferrox-glideh)
18th April 2024, 23:00
This weekend will be very interesting for China, thrust on the world’s stage in a sporting context. I hope Zhou is as graceful as Bottas with his social interactions. I always loved this track, as it is so over-designed. Good luck!