Due to Covid, the circuit has been deserted by all international competitions since winter 2020. As for the locals, we were content with a little lick of paint and to soften the bumpy areas of the route due to the ground effect created by the new generation of single-seaters. Other than that, nothing has changed. On the other hand, water has flowed under the bridge since the last time F1 visited China, and the face of the championship has changed significantly.
Guanyu Zhou will be the first Chinese driver to compete in his national Grand Prix.
In 2019, Max Verstappen only had five victories to his name while Lewis Hamilton was still a seven-time world champion. Lando Norris, George Russell and Alex Albon were only participating in the third Grand Prix of their careers, Fernando Alonso had left F1 to focus on the WEC with Toyota, and several drivers like Oscar Piastri, Yuki Tsunoda and Guanyu Zhou were still in formula. promotion.
Speaking of Zhou, the Sauber driver is set to make history by becoming the first Chinese driver to compete in his domestic Grand Prix. On his new helmet for the occasion, the boy with number 24 has a very charming photo: him as a child, brandishing a flag in the colors of Fernando Alonso during the 2005 Chinese GP. Nineteen years later, Zhou will be this time on the track and no longer in the stands to rub shoulders with his idol. “When I was a kid, everyone loved Schumacher, but Alonso was the only one who could beat him and that was something special, remembers the Chinese pilot. He always tried to be the best with every car he drove. It has always inspired me. Today we play the same sport and he is still there, doing a great job. At his age, he is still in F1 and he is really great. I don’t think there are many things more enjoyable than competing against him.”
Certainly, Zhou will be overcome with emotions this weekend.
