Motorsports
Zhou: ‘I always wanted to be like Alonso’
China has 1.4 billion people, but only 1 of them drives a Formula 1.That is Zhou Guangyu (pronounced like “joe” in English), First Chinese to become official F1 driverwhat this course achieved in the team alfa romeoHe doesn’t hide that he’s a star in his country, but he says it with a small mouth. Rather, it seems to make him blush.He continues to improve race after race and only sees F1 as a fundamental pillar on which to become a mass phenomenon in his country within a few years. I’m focused on continuing to learn to be great. For this reason it doesn’t matter that it’s important to sign updates alfa romeo, a 23-year-old pilot (30 May 1999, Shanghai, China) believes he is on the right track.so he shared it sports world in an exclusive interview.
How did you get into the Chinese automobile industry?
I started as a kid in China when I was 8 years old. I was driving a kart there for three or four years. The first year he was already in the top three of the Chinese Championship and won the next year. In order to pursue my dream of becoming a Formula 1 driver, I had to go where the competition was the toughest. I had to go to England and went with my family. Because I was still very young and needed someone to take care of me. In England I had to become a better pilot.
It must have been a big change from his comfort zone in China to go to Britain, a completely different culture.
Yes, it was very difficult. First, for culture. I had to move to another country and go to a new school in England.At the age of 12 I had to understand English and my level was that.It was difficult.I spent a lot of time alone. But I did a lot of karting and motorsport and it all made me a stronger driver.
“In England it was hard because of the culture. It made me a stronger driver.”
Go-karting is not a very popular sport in your country, so why did you decide to take up go-karting when you were a child?
Because I like horse racing. I love the sound of cars, the speed at which they accelerate, and it has to do with how it makes me feel. Pushing it to the limit is a very special feeling, isn’t it? When I was a kid, I loved cars and loved go-karts. Chinese people of that age may also like Star Wars and other things, but when I was little, I was only interested in cars before I started racing. When I started flying, it was more fun than I imagined. And so I started my career.
A photo of him participating in the 2005 Chinese F1 GP with the Fernando Alonso flag went viral. He was a big fan of Asturias.
Yes, I took Alonso’s flag. He was my… because he was someone I always looked up to in F1. Let’s compete together. It’s something I never imagined.
Is it weird to drive with your idol?
Yes, it’s something very special. I wanted to be like him someday. Now we are part of the same sport and he is still there and doing a great job. His age (41) is still in Formula 1, so it’s definitely great. I don’t think he does anything better than fighting him.
What do you remember most about Alonso?
Everyone liked Michael (Schumacher) when he was still a kid, but only Alonso could beat him at the time. I think it’s something special. Look at his career. He has always strived to be the best possible driver in every car he owns. It always inspired me to offer the best that I have always had.
“When I was a kid, everyone liked Schumacher, but Alonso was the only one who could beat him. I was always trying to be the best, and that has always inspired me.”
You shared the team with Alonso when he was in Alpine’s Young Drivers Academy. What did you learn from him and what did you try to apply to your riding style?
I think the first thing I wanted to learn from him was why he is so good at GP starts and first laps. De la Rosa said Alonso has his eyes open for anything and he can see very far. His positioning on the first lap is impressive. I don’t think it’s going to be easy for anyone to maintain this ability and keep doing it for years and years.
“I wanted to learn from Alonso’s start. I don’t think it’s easy for anyone to maintain that ability for years.”
Do you think you can win again with Aston Martin?
He’s going to Aston Martin next year, but I don’t know (laughs). we will see. I’m not going to say anything about his career here, but I wish him all the best. What is clear is that he is enjoying F1 a lot, unlike the last year in the first stage, before he left, unlike when he left. He lived through a difficult time.It was great to see him back and having so much fun.
How is Zhou spending his time on and off the track?
Of course, on track, as a professional, I do my best for the team and myself and make people proud of me. Outside of track, I like other sports such as soccer and basketball. I also like fashion.
In football, I understand that he is a fan of Real Madrid.
identification! I have followed them for years. Last year was really good (laughs). I see the team doing well and I am happy with them. He knows Courtois because he loves sports and we had a good time together (on the console). When? Okay, maybe next year. But we have many races.
“I have followed Madrid for many years. I know Courtois and he told me he had to take me to the game.”
How do you feel about your first year in F1? Perhaps the rule change helped because the difference from the drivers already established in the category was small from the start?
F1 takes a lot of experience and time, so the change in regulations probably gave us the opportunity to start from shorter distances. In F1 it takes a year, two or three years to get faster and faster. I am happy to close the gap with my teammate (Valtteri Bottas) and be faster. That was the goal and we achieved all the goals we set for this year. Getting into Q3, finishing in the points… and I’m happy with the progress we’ve made. It’s obviously complex, and while it may look easy from the outside, it’s all very intense from the inside.
“All the goals I set for myself this year have been met and I am happy with the progress I have made. From the outside it looks easy, but from the inside everything is very intense.”
You’ve made a lot of progress, but your car isn’t developing at the pace of your rivals. What do you think this experience would have helped you do if you were to compete in your first race again with that Alfa Romeo?
I think we could have finished next to or behind Valtteri Bottas. Early in the season, especially back in Bahrain, I would have been 10th, but with my experience now, if Bottas was 6th, I might have been 6th or 7th. But the most important thing for me is to make the best of what I have, and of course retirement this year didn’t help. But those things happen.
What do you think should be improved?
I think I’ve had better starts in the last few races and I’m happy with that. But for now, I may have to take another step in the race. Other teams have probably made more improvements than we have, but we still have the option to score and my goal is to score points every time.
You are the first Chinese to become an official Formula 1 driver. He is one of his 1.4 billion people in your country. what does that mean to you?
It’s something very special and something I never imagined as a kid.
You have to become a star in your country.
Yes, it’s great to see all the hard work paid off, but now is not the time to have fun, look back and continue from here, improve yourself and improve motorsport in my country and its spectators. improve the
Do you think China will become a F1 superpower in the future?
I think so. The number of spectators is still low, but it has increased especially this year, and I am sure it will increase in the years to come, as well as the competitiveness of the race. For example, the UK started many years ago, so I don’t know how much it compares to the UK, but the growth is clear and we’ll have to see how 2015 was compared to now. One step forward.
renewal? Not decided yet. We have one or two plans. We are talking about the future now and everything looks promising, but we have to wait. “
For F1 to continue to grow in China, it is important to keep F1 going. how is your situation? The contract with Alfa Romeo ends this year. continue?
It’s my first year in Formula 1 so the team is analyzing my performance, the feedback is promising and the team is very happy with the work I’ve done. I am happy to work with them. I enjoy it very much. I haven’t received anything yet, but I hope I have good news.
“The team is very happy with the work I have done and I am with them. I am happy.”
Why was no update announced at Alfa Romeo in Italy?
Well, I haven’t decided yet. We have one or two plans and should decide on a deal depending on the feedback. We are talking about the future now and everything looks promising but we have to wait.
What’s it like to share a team with Bottas?
Very good. he helped me a lot. He’s a great teammate and has a lot of experience. It’s so nice to work together. The atmosphere in the team is very good, so I would like to continue playing by his side.
Do you think you will be able to fight for the title in the future?
That is the purpose of this work. My first year was all about learning and improving my skills, but there will come a time when you want to fight for the podium more than just scoring points. , and now I’m here to try and get things right in the first few years before taking that step.
Source: Mundo Deportivo
I am a writer at Sportish, where I mainly cover sports news. I’ve also written for The Guardian and ESPN Brasil, and my work has been featured on NBC Sports, SI.com and more. Before working in journalism, I was an athlete: I played football for Colgate University and competed in the US Open Cross Country Championships.
Motorsports
Verstappen is the boss and Norris is not at the top. Rating of the best Formula 1 drivers
Popular resource The Athletic has chosen the ten best drivers of the championship based on the results of the Formula 1 season.
It would seem that there is nothing special here, but the list material seemed interesting enough to translate with the explanations of journalists.
Still, it is a matter of curiosity why champion Lando Norris cannot even be among the top 3 drivers of 2025.
The best drivers of the 2025 season
1.Max Verstappen
Wins: 8
Podiums: 15
Overall score: 2
Against teammate in qualifying: 24:0 (Lawson, Tsunoda)
“We showed them once again who the boss is.” These were the words Max Verstappen said in a radio conversation with his engineer after his victory in Abu Dhabi. Yes, Max failed to win a fifth title in a row and lost by two points to Lando Norris, but he had an incredible end to the season and showed his overall standing compared to his rivals.
Verstappen had fallen out of the title race in the summer, but he did everything to come back and showed his level at every opportunity.
Verstappen’s season was almost perfect; The exception was when he crashed into George Russell in the race in Barcelona. Perhaps the penalty for this incident and his 10th place at the finish line made Verstappen lose the championship.
Fans will remember the 2025 season as the one in which one of the most incredible comebacks in F1 history almost took place.
2.George Russell
Wins: 2
Podium: 9
Overall score: 4
Places against teammate: 21:3 (Antonelli)
“He doesn’t do anything, he always just comes third.” This meme became popular among F1 fans at the start of the season when Russell regularly appeared on the podium behind McLarens. But the Briton’s performance throughout the year has cemented his status as a champion-ready driver. The Mercedes car made it difficult to fight the favorites but George was always there and won two races.
Russell once again proved that he is among the best F1 drivers and has “championship material”. He just needs a car that will help him fight for the championship.
3.Charles Leclerc
Wins: 0
Podiums: 7
Overall score: 5
Ranking against teammate: 19:5 (Hamilton)
Ferrari created pre-season excitement and raised expectations, but failed to live up to expectations. The car was often only 4-5 paces but Charles made the most of it and took the podium seven times. His teammate Lewis Hamilton finished the year without a podium finish and completely lost the race in qualifying.
Ferrari stopped updating the car in April, but Leclerc pushed harder even when the team showed weakness. It was a strong season for him.
Charles goes on vacation feeling like he did his job well.
4. Lando Norris
Wins: 7
Podiums: 18
Overall ranking: 1
Ranking against teammate: 13:11 (Piastri)
You became champion and only finished 4th in the rankings? It may seem strange, but there are reasons why the champion is not the best when all factors are taken into account. Let’s start with the good: Lando is a champion. He did the right thing in dominating Mexico and Brazil in the most important part of the season, and he did the right thing in Abu Dhabi as well. There were also difficult moments: accidents in Jeddah and Canada, problems in Baku and difficulties in fighting with the partner for most of the season.
Is there room for progress? No doubt. Norris can still improve his performances and raise the bar. He proved he could do it.
5th Oscar Piastri
Wins: 7
Podiums: 16
Overall score: 3
Against teammate in qualifying: 11:13 (Norris)
Oscar performed very well for most of the season and topped the rankings of the best drivers during the summer break. He had minimum mistakes and maximum correct decisions, which makes you think: He is a champion. Piastri led for most of the championship, losing first place only to Mexico.
Piastri’s last victory came in the Netherlands and was followed by a disappointing weekend with many mistakes. While Norris and Verstappen reached the top, he missed out on the Oscar title.
In fact, he fell to third place in the overall rankings. But Piastri showed that he has the makings of a champion.
6. Fernando Alonso
Wins: 0
Podiums: 0
Overall score: 10
Eliminations against teammate: 24:0 (Navigation)
To use modern terminology, Alonso showed that “grandpa is still okay.” Aston Martin remained average but Alonso had many excellent performances. Even though the 44-year-old driver did not have a fast car for most of the season, he still does not lose his energy.
Alonso completed more than half of the season’s qualifying runs in the top 10 and beat teammate Lance Stroll 24:0 according to the results of all qualifying races. Fernando had almost no unsuccessful or “quiet” races. Considering the changes in technical rules in the new season, Aston Martin will have a chance.
No one knows what the team’s car will be like, but one thing is known: Alonso remains the best driver doing his best on the track.
7. Carlos Sainz
Wins: 0
Podiums: 2
Overall score: 9
Rankings against teammate: 15:9 (Albon)
The Spanish pilot needed time to get used to Williams’ car after leaving Ferrari. Sainz had problems, mistakes and accidents in the first half of the season. However, in the second half of the championship, Carlos took team leader status from teammate Alex Albon and took two podium finishes, including at Qatar, a circuit unsuitable for Williams’ car.
The team is clearly improving but the 2026 season will start with a clean slate for all participants. However, leaving Ferrari, Carlos showed that he could be the leader of a strong F1 team.
8. Isak Hagar
Wins: 0
Podiums: 1
Overall score: 12
Against teammate in qualifying: 16:6 (Tsunoda, Lawson)
Hajjar’s first season in Formula 1 started with disaster: a crash in the warm-up lap of the first race in Australia. Even Lewis’ father, Anthony Hamilton, calmed the driver down. But after that, Isak’s season got better and better. Two races later he scored his first points and won his first podium in the Netherlands, becoming the youngest Frenchman to finish in the top 3 in F1 history.
The qualifying statistics are also remarkable: Hadjar, driving a middling team’s car, finished in the top 10 16 times and crashed only once in the first segment.
All this was enough to earn a transfer to Red Bull for the 2026 season, where Isak will be Verstappen’s partner.
9.Oliver Berman
Wins: 0
Podiums: 0
Total score: 13
Ranking against teammate: 14:10 (Window)
F1 fans knew Berman could be a fast driver. Haas had issues with its car, but Berman largely avoided rookie mistakes and delivered when necessary. Oliver significantly improved his results after the summer break: this was especially evident in Mexico, where he finished fourth and was even able to get onto the podium. We repeat the best result in the team’s history.
Ollie scored 41 points, but 35 of them came in the second half of the season. In qualifying, Berman beat the much more experienced Esteban Ocon by 14:10.
The pilot confirmed only the positive course of his career in 2025.
10.Pierre Gasly
Wins: 0
Podiums: 0
Total score: 15
Places against teammate: 16:6 (Duane, Colapinto)
The French driver had major restrictions due to the car. Alpin’s weak car, which has hardly been updated during the year, did not prevent Gasly from showing his level. Many times the driver finished much higher than he should have, which showed his piloting class.
His best performance of the season came at Silverston, where he finished sixth in the wet. He finished in the top 10 11 times, beating Pierre, Albon, Tsunoda, Lawson and Berman in qualifying.
It’s been a difficult season for Alpine, with all efforts focused on 2026 and the new rules. If Gasly maintains his level and Alpin improves his car a little, then 6th place will not be the maximum for the Frenchman.
Translated by Sport.ua
Source: Sport UA
Ruth Waterhouse is an author and sports journalist who writes for Sportish. She is known for her coverage of various sports events and her insightful analysis of sports-related news. With a passion for sports and a keen eye for detail, she has become a respected voice in the sports community.
Former Formula 1 driver Riccardo Patrese believes 19-year-old Kimi Antonelli has the chance to compete for the championship in his second season.
With changes to the technical rules, the power order in the starting lineup for the 2026 season may change significantly. Patrese added that Antonelli has already shown that he can be among the names to compete for the championship:
“If Mercedes builds the best car under the new rules, Antonelli should focus on fighting Russell, as he has already shown he can do, and the rest will follow,” Patrese said.
“To the championship title!” he replied when asked how far the young Italian could go next year.
If Antonelli manages to win the championship next season, he will become the first driver to win the title in his second season since Lewis Hamilton in 2008.
Patrese recorded Antonelli’s first year:
“He made his debut, had to learn everything and coped well with the inevitable mistakes that come with lack of experience. I really enjoyed it, he showed pure class moments.”
Antonelli took three podium finishes in his debut season, including an impressive weekend at Interlagos and a spectacular comeback at the Las Vegas Grand Prix.
Source: Sport UA
Ruth Waterhouse is an author and sports journalist who writes for Sportish. She is known for her coverage of various sports events and her insightful analysis of sports-related news. With a passion for sports and a keen eye for detail, she has become a respected voice in the sports community.
A 2002 McLaren MP4-17A will go up for auction at RM Sotheby’s in Paris in 2026. Competing in 12 Grands Prix, the chassis was driven by Kimi Raikkonen and David Coulthard, achieving five podiums and one victory. The estimated price of the land is between 1,000,000 and 1,400,000 Euros.
The car was designed under the guidance of the legendary Adrian Newey. Although the MP4-17 initially showed inconsistent performance, it was later able to compete with the dominant Ferrari F2002 and regularly achieve podium finishes.
Chassis number 6 appeared in the middle of the 2002 season and was mainly used by Raikkonen, who replaced Mika Hakkinen in the team. The Finnish driver immediately finished third in the European Grand Prix, followed by second in France and third in the USA.
In 2003, the same chassis updated and driven by Coulthard won the season opener in Australia, marking the Scot’s 13th and final Formula One victory.
The car’s last race was at the 2003 Japanese Grand Prix, driven by Raikkonen, who finished second behind Rubens Barrichello, also of Ferrari. That season the championship was won by Michael Schumacher, who finished eighth in the race.
The car retains its original 2002 West livery and Räikkönen number 4 and is powered by a 3.0-litre Mercedes-Benz FO110 V10 engine. A complete restoration is required for reuse on the track.
Following its racing career, the car was stored at McLaren for 17 years and was purchased by its current owner in 2021. For fans of the early 2000s, this land is a unique investment and historical value.
Source: Sport UA
Ruth Waterhouse is an author and sports journalist who writes for Sportish. She is known for her coverage of various sports events and her insightful analysis of sports-related news. With a passion for sports and a keen eye for detail, she has become a respected voice in the sports community.
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