From becoming China's first Formula 1 driver to joining the new Cadillac Formula 1 Team, Zhou Guanyu's career path has always been that of a pioneer. In 2022, he stepped onto the F1 stage as a driver for the Alfa Romeo team, becoming an important name in Chinese motorsport history. In 2025, he returned to Ferrari as a reserve driver, continuing to maintain his competitive edge through simulator training, testing, and team development. Now, with Cadillac set to officially enter Formula 1 in 2026, Zhou Guanyu has joined this new team as a reserve driver for its first F1 season. For him, this is not just a new career choice, but also an opportunity to participate in the team's journey from scratch and witness the birth of a new chapter.
This issue of "Supreme" magazine is fortunate to have an exclusive interview with Zhou Guanyu, from his racing journey and the position of Chinese drivers on the international stage to the increasingly close relationship between fashion, luxury and Formula 1 (F1), listening to him personally share his professional life that is still moving at high speed.
Many overseas Chinese youths see you as a role model. If a 12-year-old Chinese child were watching this interview today, and he was pursuing a seemingly unattainable dream, what would you most like to say to him?
I think the first thing is not to be afraid. Having dreams is actually a good thing, because when you have a dream, it means you have something you truly enjoy, or a goal worth pursuing. And that's why you're willing to work hard and strive for it.
Of course, the journey won't always be smooth sailing; you'll encounter many difficulties and need to overcome obstacles. But I think the most important thing is not to be afraid. As long as you're willing to give your all for this dream, for this endeavor, for this goal, it will surely bring you unexpected rewards at some point.
You have long lived, studied, and competed on the international stage. Which values or traits within Chinese culture do you believe have had the most profound impact on your growth and success?
I think this definitely has some impact. The most valuable thing for me is that, as a Chinese person, I have always been taught to keep a low profile and be willing to work behind the scenes throughout my growth and learning process. No matter what happens, good or bad, don't let too much personal emotion show.
I believe many people understand that when Chinese people encounter anger, frustration, or grievances on the international stage or in overseas environments, they often need to keep these emotions to themselves, digest and control them slowly, and then suppress them step by step. I think this personality and way of handling things is one of the important reasons why I have been able to get to where I am today on my journey to pursue my dreams.
Because F1 is an extremely brutal competitive sport, and in lower-level racing, whether it's junior formula, F3, or F4, resource allocation, car setup, and even the overall team focus often tend to favor European drivers who are considered to have a better chance of success. So, throughout my journey, I've often carried this feeling and mindset, persevering step by step. Whether it's winning a championship or standing on the podium, it's mostly about slowly processing, adjusting, and transitioning internally.
Therefore, I believe that the composure, restraint, and emotional maturity inherent in Chinese culture, as well as the ability to manage one's emotions, have been crucial to my career. They have not only influenced my personality but have also greatly helped me cope with pressure, overcome difficulties, and achieve my current success.
Many people associate Formula 1 with wealth, luxury cars, expensive watches, and a lavish lifestyle. However, after experiencing all of that, what does "luxury" truly represent for Zhou Guanyu today?
For me, the core meaning of luxury actually comes from my long-standing love for fashion and trends. When you like fashion and pay attention to trends, you will naturally come into contact with luxury, as well as streetwear and the different style changes of each era, each moment, and even each year.
In this process, you start to think about what kind of image you want to project to the public, and what kind of lifestyle and personal attitude you want to present. I am also very fortunate that Formula 1 has such a large and international platform, allowing everyone to see not only me, but also the more diverse and different aspects of all the drivers.
Besides racing suits and team uniforms, I'm also seeing more and more brands joining the sport, which makes me very happy. In the past, people's imaginations of racing cars and drivers were relatively simple; they thought we just drove cars and wore team uniforms to compete. But now, with so many different brands and sectors entering Formula 1, the sport is becoming more international. It's like how we race in 24 different countries and cities every year—it's inherently a very diverse and open stage.
I am also delighted to see the commercial value of Formula 1 continue to increase significantly in recent years. This is not only a reflection of the growth of the race itself, but also signifies that it is becoming a global platform that combines sports, fashion, culture, and lifestyle.
Cadillac is embarking on one of the most anticipated new chapters in Formula 1 history. What excites you most about being part of the team? What role do you hope to play in this journey?
I feel very honored to join them. Actually, when I was making this decision, I had some different options, but the first reason that ultimately made me decide to join was that it plays a very important role in my future career planning.
More importantly, this year I had the opportunity to get up close and personal with the brand new 2026 car, including participating in their tire testing a few days later, as well as endurance-related tire testing. This was a crucial point for me at the time, because it allowed me to stay competitive while truly understanding the driving changes needed for the next generation of cars. It's not just about staying in a simulator or testing older cars from behind. For me, testing current F1 cars provides far more valuable experience than testing older models, allowing me to gather more data and share that experience and information with the teams.
Another thing that impressed me was that this team was only formed a year and a half ago. Compared to most teams in the paddock, many of which have at least five, ten, or even twenty years of experience to build a competitive car and team, it's truly remarkable that they were able to narrow the gap with the top and middle classes in such a short time.
I think we've made a very important transition in our first year, and I hope the team can improve even more in the future. After all, it's a long road ahead, and many things are still being accumulated step by step. But being able to participate and have the opportunity to contribute my experience, ideas, and feedback is very exciting and enjoyable for me. Moreover, many people on the team, whether drivers, team leaders, or other members, are people I've worked with or collaborated with in the past, so it feels like a big family.
Looking back on today twenty years from now, how would you most like people to remember Zhou Guanyu? As a race car driver, a pioneer, or someone who opened up more possibilities for the next generation?
Actually, I haven't thought that far ahead yet, but as things stand now, I hope that 20 years from now, when people hear my name, they will know me as a leading figure in F1, or an important pioneer. Because for me, this isn't just my own dream, but also the shared dream of many racing fans. And when I finally stand on this dream stage, I hope even more to help our country, to bring F1 into our country, and to bring motorsports to a wider audience.
At the same time, I also hope that Chinese drivers can achieve better results and reach the highest level of motorsport competition in the world. This is very important to me. It's about opening a window for motorsport, for F1, so that more people can get to know this sport and understand this event full of competitive spirit and charm.
The most unforgettable competition of my life?
In my memory, the most important day was the Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai in April 2024. If we're talking purely about professional achievements, I might choose my F1 debut in 2022, the Bahrain Grand Prix. But what truly left the deepest impression on me and was the day I returned to China to race in 2024. Even now, every time I see footage or videos from that time, I get goosebumps, and a flood of memories rushes back to my mind.
For me, from being just a little car enthusiast as a child to becoming a racing driver, truly embarking on this professional path, and gradually realizing my dream, I've always been waiting for the day when I could perform in front of my own city and my own country. And that day finally came in my third year as an F1 driver, two years after I became one. In a way, it also made up for the regrets of the previous two years.
So I was incredibly excited and thrilled. Even though the game was over, the entire stadium was still chanting my name. It's hard to describe the feeling when you hear the whole stadium shouting your name; I think that day will be unforgettable for me.
The post "The Road of a Chinese Driver" first appeared on Pure Luxury Magazine .
From becoming China's first Formula 1 driver to joining the new Cadillac Formula 1 Team, Zhou Guanyu's career path has always been that of a pioneer. In 2022, he stepped onto the F1 stage as a driver for the Alfa Romeo team, becoming an important name in Chinese motorsport history. In 2025, he returned…
The post "The Road of a Chinese Driver" first appeared on Pure Luxury Magazine .
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