Sauber's Zhou ready to ‘write history’ on home soil in China

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Next weekend's Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai will mark a historic moment for Sauber charger Zhou Guanyu and his home nation.

The local hero will become the first ever Chinese driver to race an F1 car on home soil, a feat that fills him with immense “joy and pride”.

Despite Sauber's disappointing results since the beginning of its 2024 campaign, Zhou remains focused on delivering a strong performance.

The 24-year-old sees his home race as an opportunity to inspire a new generation of Chinese racing enthusiasts, especially considering the fervent reception – tickets sold out within hours, meaning the grandstands will be packed to the brim.

Read also: Bottas hoping for Chinese GP fix to Sauber pitstop woes

“I couldn’t be more excited to finally race on home soil in Shanghai,” Zhou commented in Sauber’s Chinese Grand Prix preview.

“To be the first Chinese driver ever to compete in Formula 1 in China means a lot to me – it fills me with immense joy, pride and responsibility.

“It isn’t just a race for me: after four years off the calendar, the championship finally returns, and with a Chinese driver on the grid, we will write history.

“It’s an opportunity to inspire and pave the path for future generations being interested in the sport: we saw the passion that awaits us when the tickets went on sale, and were fully sold out within hours – my country loves racing and has been waiting for this moment for years.”

However, Zhou emphasizes that his primary goal remains scoring points, a feat that has eluded him and the team so far in 2024.

“For me, though, the focus remains on performance: once I get to the track, I will treat this as any other weekend, and work hard to extract the most out of the car,” he added.

“I can’t wait to give it my all, share the passion with our entire team trackside and at home, and start a new chapter of Chinese motorsport together with the crowd.

“Most importantly, though, I can’t wait to have a good race and get back to scoring points.”

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.