The extraordinary image of Zhou Guanyu, the first Chinese driver to take part in the Chinese Grand Prix, which will forever remain in the heart of motorsport.
This article was written in response to Guanyu Zhou's letter to The Players Tribune about his dream of racing in the Chinese Grand Prix which you can read here
There are many moments in life when we all feel pressure. What you felt in November 2021 in Bahrain could represent many different moments in a person's life, but I can assure you that when something like this happens, we all have something in common: a dream and the feeling of losing it.
For you, that dream was, is and always will be Formula One. Because the dream doesn't fade away when you get to the point you think you should get to, but there's always something more to desire. Dreams come true, and then they evolve in such a way that they never end, so that you maintain that unstoppable feeling that can't hold you back.
But there are also times when the dream can turn into a nightmare. Like that stalemate. That damned stall at turn 1, not just Turn 1 of the race or the year, but of your F1 career. That's when you felt the weight on your shoulders of a sport that can be so sweet, but also so cruel, with room for only the top 20 riders in the world, with little to no margin for error. A sport, which had always been a lifelong dream and which now seemed to no longer love you.
A special mentor
And I say “seemed” because, once again, it was always the same dream that turned into the nightmare you felt, making you reflect on how hard you had worked and how much you loved F1 right from the start. A sport that pushed you to change your life and that of your family just to reach that first curve, with a custom-made seat that now seemed to no longer be suitable. But even when the voices implied that he no longer belonged to you, in reality he always more so.
Everyone feels the weight of their disappointments and heartbreaking moments louder, brighter, in slow motion, as if everything were amplified. As if time stopped. But like you said, this path is your path. A journey that meant going to all the Grands Prix in China as a child, moving to the United Kingdom, dreaming of becoming like your idol. A journey that brought Zhou, six years ago, to that same FP1 session a few years later in Austria, where Fernando worked his magic, a two-time world champion with both feet on the ground, giving you the advice and reliability you now think of when you need strength, confidence.
The dream come true
The magic that pushed you further and further, until Alfa Romeo called. A dream come true. Because what you owed to little Zhou was what made that night in Bahrain so cold, but that same desire and passion led you to cross the finish line in 10th place that same night, scoring your first point in the top category. And here you are, proving to everyone that this place is yours, that the road has been difficult, tough, but that there hasn't been a moment when it wasn't worth it. Because you always knew it was what you wanted to do.
China was waiting for you, Zhou, just as Zhou waited every year to come to Grand Prix, but this time you were on the other side. Driving for your country. The first ever Chinese driver. Absolutely.
So, when you were on the track to say hello to your audience, to your people, I hope you remembered to also say hello to little Zhou in the stands and that you didn't forget to tell him: You did.
