Latest news with #ZhouGuanyu
Reuters
20-03-2025
- Automotive
- Reuters
Zhou hopes to get back into F1 race seat with Cadillac in 2026
SHANGHAI, March 20 (Reuters) - China's first and only Formula One driver Zhou Guanyu said ahead of the Chinese Grand Prix on Thursday that he hoped to get back into a race seat with Cadillac when it joins the grid in 2026, adding that churn in the driver market made F1 a "brutal sport." A General Motors-backed Cadillac entry will become the championship's 11th team next year after securing formal approval from the sport's commercial rights holders and governing FIA earlier this month. Ferrari's reserve driver told reporters ahead of his home race: "I'm first of all very happy that a new team is joining F1... as it's a pity there's no seat available to me... the addition of a new team means there will be two new seats to compete for. "I will definitely wait for any opportunities," the former Sauber driver told reporters in his native Mandarin Chinese. "There are many new players, and F1 is a very brutal sport. If you don't show your skills and mental toughness within a short period of time, it's easy to be eliminated," the Shanghai-born driver added. Having a Chinese driver back on the grid would be a boon for F1 and its owner Liberty Media, who see the world's second-largest country as a key market. F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has said in the past that China could ultimately host two races. Cadillac have appointed Briton Graeme Lowdown to lead the team but the Chinese driver said the fact a member of his management team was taking the reins of the new outfit did not mean he was guaranteed a drive. "I'm really happy, of course, that Graeme is the principal of Cadillac, but that doesn't mean I'm definitely linked with the team because, at the end of the day, the overall decision is taken by different people," Zhou later told reporters in English. "I'm just doing my thing with Ferrari and trying to focus on the job here and when there's a chance I'm always going to be fully committed to it," he added.
South China Morning Post
20-03-2025
- Automotive
- South China Morning Post
F1 growth boosted by China, nearly 90 million more views that last year, research shows
Formula One added nearly 90 million new fans last year, with China showing the biggest percentage rise following the sport's post-Covid-19 return to Shanghai, according to data released by Nielsen Sports on Wednesday. Advertisement China was on the calendar last year for the first time since 2019 and the circuit hosts the second round of the 2025 season this weekend, although there is no longer a Chinese driver on the grid. Zhou Guanyu is now Ferrari reserve, after losing his race seat at Sauber. Nielsen put Formula One's global fandom at 826.5 million, 12 per cent more than in 2023, with a 39 per cent increase in fans following in China over the last 12 months. The United States, a key growth market with three grands prix, showed a 10.5 per cent expansion. Canada (+31.5 per cent), Argentina and Saudi Arabia (both +25.5 per cent) were also strong. Red Bull's Max Verstappen celebrates with the trophy after winning the Chinese Grand Prix in 2024. Photo: Reuters The Argentine figures reflect the effect of Franco Colapinto last year becoming the country's first driver on the grid since 2001 when he replaced dropped American Logan Sargeant at Williams.
Reuters
19-03-2025
- Automotive
- Reuters
Formula One fan growth continues, boosted by China
LONDON, March 19 (Reuters) - Formula One added nearly 90 million new fans last year, with China showing the biggest percentage rise following the sport's post-COVID return to Shanghai, according to data released by Nielsen Sports on Wednesday. China was on the calendar last year for the first time since 2019 and the circuit hosts the second round of the 2025 season this weekend, although there is no longer a Chinese driver on the grid. Zhou Guanyu is now Ferrari reserve, after losing his race seat at Sauber. Nielsen put Formula One's global fandom at 826.5 million, 12% more than in 2023, with a 39% increase in fans following in China over the last 12 months. The United States, a key growth market with three grands prix, showed a 10.5% expansion. Canada (+31.5%), Argentina and Saudi Arabia (both +25.5%) were also strong. The Argentine figures reflect the effect of Franco Colapinto last year becoming the country's first driver on the grid since 2001 when he replaced dropped American Logan Sargeant at Williams. Colapinto, 21, is now a reserve at Renault-owned Alpine and tipped to take a race seat there with Australian rookie Jack Doohan's place seen at risk. The 2025 season, the sport's 75th, has already got off to a strong start with the official total estimated attendance at the opening Australian Grand Prix put at a record 465,498. That total is more than 13,000 higher than 2024 and the race in Melbourne also drew a bigger TV audience than the previous year, with Nielsen reporting a 22% increase. Cumulative TV viewership was up more than 10% in 2024 for the U.S. Grand Prix in Austin, Texas. U.S. broadcaster ESPN reported its largest Australian GP audience on record last weekend with an average 1.1 million viewers. Nielsen said Formula One's digital footprint continued to expand, with YouTube highlights drawing an additional 233.0 million views. "Formula One's growth reflects its growing global appeal," said Nielsen Sports' global general manager Jon Stainer. "With a more competitive season in 2024 and key markets like the U.S., China, and Brazil experiencing year-over-year fan growth, F1 continues to strengthen its position as a truly global sport." Last year saw McLaren replace Red Bull as constructor's champions, although Red Bull's Max Verstappen won his fourth title in a row, and seven drivers from four teams winning races. This season started with McLaren's Lando Norris ending Verstappen's run of more than 1,000 days as championship leader by winning in Australia.
Yahoo
05-02-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Zhou Guanyu joins Ferrari as a reserve driver for 2025 F1 season
MARANELLO, Italy (AP) — The first Chinese driver in Formula 1, Zhou Guanyu, is heading back to Ferrari as one of its reserve drivers for the 2025 season. Zhou doesn't have a race seat for 2025 after leaving Sauber at the end of last year but could step in if Charles Leclerc or Lewis Hamilton can't race. The 25-year-old Zhou first raced in F1 in 2022 for what was then the Alfa Romeo team, before it reverted back to the Sauber name. He has a best finish of eighth and has strong commercial and sponsorship backing in China. He was a Ferrari academy driver earlier in his career. 'It's a great honor to be one of the reserve drivers that can help really develop the team,' Zhou said. 'It's amazing to be coming back home to where it all started.' Zhou is one of two reserves for Ferrari alongside another ex-Sauber driver, Antonio Giovinazzi, who last raced in F1 in 2021 and is a long-time reserve who has yet to drive for the team. When Ferrari's Carlos Sainz Jr. was unable to race because of appendicitis at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix last year, the team opted instead to promote then-Formula 2 driver Oliver Bearman. A strong seventh-place finish at an unfamiliar circuit helped Bearman build momentum and secure a full-time F1 drive for 2025 with Haas. ___ AP auto racing:
Al-Ahram Weekly
05-02-2025
- Automotive
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Formula One: Zhou Guanyu joins Ferrari as a reserve driver for 2025 F1 season - Omni sports
The first Chinese driver in Formula 1, Zhou Guanyu, is heading back to Ferrari as one of its reserve drivers for the 2025 season. Zhou doesn't have a race seat for 2025 after leaving Sauber at the end of last year but could step in if Charles Leclerc or Lewis Hamilton can't race. The 25-year-old Zhou first raced in F1 in 2022 for what was then the Alfa Romeo team, before it reverted back to the Sauber name. He has a best finish of eighth and has strong commercial and sponsorship backing in China. He was a Ferrari academy driver earlier in his career. 'It's a great honor to be one of the reserve drivers that can help really develop the team,' Zhou said. 'It's amazing to be coming back home to where it all started.' Zhou is one of two reserves for Ferrari alongside another ex-Sauber driver, Antonio Giovinazzi, who last raced in F1 in 2021 and is a long-time reserve who has yet to drive for the team. When Ferrari's Carlos Sainz Jr. was unable to race because of appendicitis at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix last year, the team opted instead to promote then-Formula 2 driver Oliver Bearman. A strong seventh-place finish at an unfamiliar circuit helped Bearman build momentum and secure a full-time F1 drive for 2025 with Haas. (For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.) Short link:
