Regardless of the outcome at the GP of China, Stake F1 driver Guanyu Zhou is set to make history in Shanghai. This weekend, he will be recorded as the first Chinese driver to compete in a Grand Prix on home soil. This is a significant honor for the 24-year-old Zhou, but his primary focus is on finishing in the top ten and earning his first World Championship points of the year.
Guanyu Zhou, representing Sauber, looked forward to the first GP of China since 2019. “I’m incredibly excited to finally race in Shanghai,” he shared. “Being the first Chinese driver to participate in Formula 1 in China means a lot to me. I feel very happy and proud.”
Guanyu Zhou made his debut in the sport in 2022, but his home race has been missing from the calendar in recent years. “After four years, the championship is finally returning here,” Zhou celebrated. “With a Chinese driver on the grid, we are definitely going to make history.” The race at the Shanghai International Circuit has been held sixteen times since 2004, but as Zhou is the first Chinese Formula 1 driver, he will create a unique moment.
Opportunity to Inspire
If it’s up to Guanyu Zhou, he will not be the last Chinese F1 driver. His home race is the perfect opportunity to inspire local youth to pursue their racing dreams. “It’s a chance to inspire the new generation,” Zhou explained. “We saw the passion when the tickets [for the GP of China] sold out within a few hours. My country loves racing and has been waiting for this moment for years.”
Despite the historic weekend, Zhou wants to keep a cool head in Shanghai. “For me, it’s important to stay focused,” he clarified. “Once I’m on the track, I’ll approach it like any other weekend. I’m going to work hard to get the most out of the car.” The Stake F1 driver is currently on zero points in his third season in Formula 1. In both 2022 and 2023, he finished eighteenth in the championship. The best finish of his career was a P8 during the GP of Canada in 2022.
