Hope the five-star red flag flies on the podium – an interview with Zhou Guanyu, China's first official F1 driver

Xinhua News Agency, Shanghai, March 24 Title: Hope five-star red flag flying on the podium - Interview with China's first F1 official driver Zhou Guanyu

Xinhua News Agency reporters Xu Dongyuan, Li Bowen, Dong Yixing, and Zhu Hong

Five red lights went out, and the teenager who had been in contact with go-karts since the age of 7 drove onto the stage he most longed for. The World Formula One Championship (F1) opens the new season in Bahrain on 20 March, and this world-class sport also welcomes the first official Chinese driver, Zhou Guanyu, who became the first Chinese driver to score points in F1 and the 66th driver to score points in his F1 debut!

Xinhua News Agency reporter interviewed Zhou Guanyu after the race to understand his mood after the opening match as China's first F1 official driver and the hardships along the way.

"I did it, and I deserve this seat."

In 2011, Ma Qinghua from Shanghai made his Grand Prix weekend debut, participating in free practice. F1 has been waiting for the official appearance of Chinese drivers.

"I did it, I won my first World Championship points in the main game, which is not only to show the best of myself in the dream job, but also to affirm myself." Zhou Guanyu cried with joy after the game. In F1 Bahrain, Zhou Guanyu, who represents Alfa Romeo Team, scored 1 point in the 10th place.

Recalling the opening match, the most memorable thing for Zhou Guanyu is the final stage of the game. 'I'm definitely happy if I finish in 11th place on my debut, but if I'm so close to 10th, I'm definitely going to give it a go." In the end, Perez unexpectedly withdrew from the tournament on the last lap, and Zhou Guanyu got the first point of his dreams.

1 point, a heavy point, released the huge pressure in Zhou Guanyu's heart in the past half a year. "I wanted to prove myself so much that I could show my full abilities in the first stop, which was a no better start." But this is just the beginning, and then it will definitely get better and better from this step and continue to improve. Zhou Guanyu said.

After this battle, Zhou Guanyu confidently said that he now felt that he deserved this seat and knew that he was ready for the F1 journey.

"All I can do is bring out my best."

Previously, many people questioned whether Zhou Guanyu was worthy of the identity of an F1 driver, but the Chinese driver proved himself with strength. "All I can do is bring out my best."

In the 2021 F2 Championship, Zhou Guanyu won 4 championships and 9 podiums, and finally won the third place in the driver of the year.

During the Spring Festival of the Year of the Tiger, Zhou Guanyu, who followed the team in pre-season preparations, said that during that time, he saw the most, one was a human ability trainer, the second was a team engineer, and the third was a simulator for drivers. From F2 to F1, the downforce of the vehicle increased sharply, and Zhou Guanyu said that he had been strengthening the training of the neck. Push-ups, barbells, bench presses... On Zhou Guanyu's personal social platform, you can also see training videos during pre-season preparations.

The 2-hour race time is also a huge test for the drivers. Zhou Guanyu introduced: "F1 racing cars have too many electronic systems that need to be adjusted by themselves, and the spirit is highly concentrated for a long time, whether it is your own feelings about the car, or the handling of some faults, you need to complete it in the shortest possible time. In addition to physical fitness, familiarity with racing and the track is also a lesson that Zhou Guanyu must complete. Throughout the winter, he was one of the longest test riders, and he was always seen in the team's workshop with various data sheets to communicate with technicians.

Facing the idol Alonso – "Whenever I have the chance, I will try to surpass." ”

"No matter what kind of driver, whenever I have the opportunity, I will try to surpass." In the penultimate lap of the race, in preparation for overtaking, Zhou Guanyu, who was behind Alonso, began to "keep the electricity" on the car. "My car had a little wobble in front of Turn One, and by that time I was ready to try straight ahead." Zhou Guanyu recalled that in the last lap, he still hoped to improve another step when he already knew that a Red Bull car had stopped and he was in tenth place. 'I hope to keep trying to follow Alonso and bring this point back smoothly at the same time."

Since F1 landed in China in 2004, the Shanghai Grand Prix has attracted the attention of many fans every year. At that time, Zhou Guanyu, who was still a child, held a flag with a portrait of Spanish driver Alonso and watched an F1 Shanghai Grand Prix, and now he finally competed with his childhood idol. Talking about this race with his idol, Zhou Guanyu was full of emotion: "When you look back on your own road, from the beginning of holding his flag, waving and supporting him at the Shanghai Grand Prix, to later having the privilege of learning in a system, to test the car together, and then driving his car, to now to fight with him, and finally get points, it feels very dreamy." ”

Born in Shanghai in 1999, Zhou Guanyu has developed a keen interest in racing since he was a child. After practicing go-karts for just over two years, Zhou Guanyu won all eight races of the National Karting Championship at the age of 10, showing his driver's talent. In 2010, with the support of his parents, 11-year-old Zhou Guanyu traveled to the UK to train while going to school and began his go-kart racing career in Europe. While winning the National Championship, the All England Championship and the European Championship in the 14-17 year old category, the Ferrari Drivers' Academy threw an olive branch at him. After starting his racing career, from F4, F3, F2 to now becoming a regular racing driver in F1, Zhou Guanyu has grown all the way and created miracles along the way.

"I've brought the five-star red flag into the F1 paddock and hope the future will fly on the podium."

Before the game, getting points is still a "small goal" that Zhou Guanyu expected to complete in the season. If you get points in the first game, will you change your goal? For this question, Zhou Guanyu is very calm, "The most practical thing is to continue to maintain the state and continue to maintain the set goals." Now that I've got points, I want to fight for more points more times. ”

Zhou Guanyu's helmet, printed with a pattern of blue and white porcelain, has a distinct Chinese style, and the direct back of the helmet is printed with a bright five-star red flag. On September 27, 2020, in the 2020 FIA F2 Championship in Sochi, Russia, Zhou Guanyu started from pole position, led the way, and finally won, and the five-star red flag flew for the first time at the highest point of the F2 arena. In November 2021, Zhou Guanyu officially joined the F1 Alfa Romeo team, and the five-star red flag entered the F1 arena.

It is foreseeable that the emergence of Zhou Guanyu will enhance the attention and popularity of F1 and even the entire motorsport in China. When a Chinese name appeared in F1, in the 20 big rosters, it already made history.