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.