Sauber driver Zhou Guanyu of China steers his car during the qualifying session at the Suzuka Circuit in Suzuka, central Japan, Saturday, April 6, 2024, ahead of Sunday’s Japanese Formula One Grand Prix. Sauber driver Zhou Guanyu, right, of China and teammate Valtteri Bottas of Finland wave during the drivers parade ahead of the Australian Formula One Grand Prix at Albert Park, in Melbourne, Australia, Sunday, March 24, 2024.
Zhou has never won a Formula 1 race. In 48 races beginning in 2022, he’s yet to even reach the podium — meaning a finish in the first three places. In the last F1 race almost two weeks ago in Japan, his Sauber retired with a gearbox failure and he placed 18th out of 20.But the numbers don’t matter much in the search for a hometown hero in F1.
Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes — he’s moving next season to Ferrari — won the 2019 race in China in the midst of his era of dominance when he won four straight season titles between 2017 and 2020. The 90-minute Chinese-language documentary about Zhou is entitled “The First One.” The race is part of a campaign by the national and provinicial governments to lure tourists back to China following the pandemic. It’s also part of an effort toChina is relatively new to auto racing, and Shanghai held its first GP in 2004. In a statement last month, China’s General Administration of Sport — combined with the commerce and culture ministry — indicated sports events were a priority.