Zhou Guanyu: A difficult past and future for the Chinese in Formula 1

As the 2024 season is about to enter its final stage, Zhou Guanyu, driver for Stake F1, is struggling with the pressure on his shoulders. The team that will become Audi in 2026 is the only one that has not scored a single point this season. Facing a challenging year, the Chinese driver is fighting not only for his place on the grid, but also against the prejudices that have followed him since the beginning.

Not such a radiant entrance.

Zhou Guanyu has marked the history of motorsport forever. In 2022, he became the first Chinese driver to secure a place in Formula 1, an achievement that paves the way for future generations. At the time, he was in third place in the Formula 2 driver’s championship and had won four races in 2021. These results earned him a spot at Alfa Romeo in 2022. Despite strong performances in Formula 2, Zhou Guanyu has often felt that he was judged more harshly than others.

During an interview with The Race, he took the opportunity to look back on his difficult beginnings in Formula 1. Zhou Guanyu notably compared his arrival to that of Oliver Bearman who will join Haas in 2025. The British driver is currently in 15th place in the Formula 2 standings. “In 2021, when I signed with Alfa Romeo, there was a lot of racist abuse because people weren’t following my career,” he said. “Now we see a driver who is outside the top 10 in F2 getting a seat, and there is a lot of support for him.”

It must be acknowledged that Oliver Bearman has not been able to show his performance this year. With his teammate Kimi Antonelli, a rookie, in seventh place, the young driver has cause for concern. While he struggled with Prema, he still benefits from considerable support. A situation that the Chinese driver laments. « This shows that nationality is a reality. It’s hard to change when you are Asian and come from different Asian countries, but it doesn’t worry me », he said.

An uncertain future for China

For Zhou Guanyu, the chance of staying in Formula 1 is 50/50. As we have already reached the halfway point of the season, few seats remain to be filled and there are more drivers without a seat than available spots. He is currently in competition to keep his seat, not to mention with his teammate Valtteri Bottas. But he believes nothing is lost, especially with the arrival of Mattia Binotto. “I have known him for a good while now, having been involved in the Ferrari academy for several years,” he told The Race. “For the future or for next year, it’s definitely better.”

This season will always remain special for Zhou Guanyu, as it was the year he made his debut at home during the Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai. After a four-year hiatus in the calendar due to Covid, he finally had the opportunity to race on the circuit he had in his mind since he was younger. “The atmosphere is even better than at Silverstone. It’s incredible, and they are all here for one person,” he admitted.

But when he looks towards the future, F1 driver Stake is unsure about the future of his country in Formula 1. He who has already made history after more than 70 years of competition is uncertain about the future of Chinese drivers in F1. According to him, it will take a little longer before another Chinese driver makes an appearance. “I don’t think anyone expected a Chinese driver to be in F1, and I don’t think there will be another one in the next five or ten years,” he acknowledged.

For now, Zhou Guanyu needs to focus primarily on his performance in order to hope to score at least one point before the end of the season. But with the arrival of Mattia Binotto and their good relationship, it may well not be the driver’s last year in Formula 1.