Zhou Guanyu, China's first official F1 driver: Looking forward to showing strength in the new season

China News Service Beijing, December 15 Title: China's first F1 official driver Zhou Guanyu: Looking forward to showing strength in the new season

Author Li Xiang

A few days ago, the 2021 F2 Championship came to an end, and Chinese driver Zhou Guanyu won the third place of the year. During the full preparation for the new season, Zhou Guanyu accepted an exclusive interview with a reporter from China News Agency.

Infographic: Zhou Guanyu. Image source: ICphoto

In 2021, Zhou Guanyu won 4 championships and 9 podiums, with remarkable results. Next season, Zhou Guanyu will be on the stage of Formula 1, becoming the first official driver in China to compete in the Formula 1 Championship.

Zhou Guanyu told reporters that it is an extreme honor to be China's first official F1 driver, and it feels like a dream. "For me, becoming an F1 driver was a seemingly close but distant goal two years ago, and it takes a lot of effort from one person, one team to have a chance to achieve it. And to this goal, I myself, my team, and my family have worked hard for a long time. ”

For the new F1 season goals in 2022, Zhou Guanyu also has his own plan. He believes that it is extremely important to first prepare for becoming an F1 driver, both physically and mentally. He hopes to get points in the new F1 season as soon as possible and try to show his strength in the first few races.

Zhou Guanyu also added that although he raced on the F2 track last season, he always used the standards of F1 drivers to demand himself, including physical training and psychological stress resistance, so he was not worried about whether he could adapt to the intensity of F1.

Zhou Guanyu admitted that Alonso and Ricardo are his idols, "I am very happy to have the opportunity to work with them now, and I have become very good friends with each other at work." He lamented that working with idols had a feeling of dreams shining into reality.

As for some people who call Zhou Guanyu Liu Xiang and Yao Ming in the racing world, he said: "I am very grateful for this evaluation, which is a recognition of my efforts, but I myself did not imagine that one day I could become a good person like Yao Ming and Liu Xiang." As Chinese to be an official driver of F1, I know this is just the beginning. I want to make greater progress under the guidance of the new goal, strive to show my level, and do better and better. ”

"No matter where it comes from, it is a very proud thing to represent the Chinese to go to international events, to show China's highest level in every field and every sport, and to let the five-star red flag rise on the field," Zhou Guanyu hopes that everyone will support every Chinese athlete who is fighting in international competitions. (End)