FORMULA ONE: CHINESE GRAND PRIX IS ‘OPPORTUNITY TO INSPIRE’ FOR ZHOU GUANYU AS RACE RETURNS TO SHANGHAI

Having made his way in motorsport largely on his own, Zhou relishes a chance to 'pave the path for future generations'
'I can't wait to give it my all ... and start a new chapter of Chinese motorsport together with the crowd,' he says

The road to becoming China's first fully fledged Formula One driver was a lonely one that required endurance and self-discipline, Sauber's Zhou Guanyu said ahead of his first grand prix race in his hometown of Shanghai.

But the 24-year-old said that the prospect of taking to the circuit filled him with "immense joy, pride and responsibility".

F1 will this weekend return to the country for the first time since 2019, and Zhou said that the next few days would be not just a race but an opportunity to "write history".

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Zhou has already done precisely that by dint of signing for Alfa Romeo in 2021, and after the absences caused by China's strict Covid-19 restrictions, he said his country had been "waiting for this moment for years".

"It's an opportunity to inspire and pave the path for future generations being interested in the sport," he said. "We saw the passion that awaits us when the tickets went on sale, and were fully sold out within hours."

Talking to reporters after a screening of a documentary about his career, Zhou described his journey to joining motorsport's elite as a difficult one, pointing to the lack of support available to up-and-coming drivers in China.

"As a Chinese driver, I am not in an area that belongs to me, I don't have anyone to guide me, I don't have a carmaker, I don't have any engine manufacturer," Zhou said.

"I am completely dependent on my own hard work as well as my team's. There is a lot that you have to endure, you have to discipline yourself internally in terms of some of your thoughts."

Zhou said he envied Japanese drivers, who had a "Honda Dream Project to get them on track from childhood".

While likely to enjoy significant support from a packed-out Shanghai International Circuit, Zhou's chances of making the podium are slim.

He finished 15th at the Australian Grand Prix in March and dropped out early because of a mechanical problem in Japan earlier this month.

While just getting on to the circuit was "already a dream come true for me", Zhou admitted to harbouring some nerves about tackling an unfamiliar track that was recently resurfaced.

Still, he said once he got into the car he would shut out the noise that has built up around him and treat it as "any other weekend, and work hard to extract the most out of the car.

"I can't wait to give it my all, share the passion with our entire team trackside and at home, and start a new chapter of Chinese motorsport together with the crowd," he said.

"Most importantly, though, I can't wait to have a good race and get back to scoring points."