F1 Returns to China With Pride and Exuberance Despite COVID Absence

The Shanghai International Circuit held a Covid hospital two years ago, but this weekend it will host Formula One again, marking the sport’s first return to China since the outbreak.

Fans will be even more excited when they see Shanghai native Zhou Guanyu make his Formula One debut at his home circuit.

Fan Wang Xiaotian said, “I’m very excited. In these 5,000 years of (Chinese) history, there has only been one Zhou Guanyu.”

Before Covid and China’s travel restrictions stopped almost all major international sport in the country, Shanghai last hosted an F1 event in 2019.

When tickets went on sale in January, they quickly sold out for the exciting Formula One weekend, which starts with practice on Friday morning, including a sprint race on Saturday, and concludes with the grand prix on Sunday.

Ma Qinghua, who participated in a 2012 practice session and became the first Chinese driver of a Formula One vehicle, said that the sport’s comeback would have a “very good impact,” particularly on younger fans who were unable to see their idols up close during the epidemic.

Ma, a trailblazer in China’s motorsports sector, told AFP that “this group of people are very much anticipating the chance to witness a race personally.”

“Very proud”

A temporary 13,000-bed Covid hospital was established on the Shanghai circuit at the height of the city’s lockdown, precisely two years ago.

Zhou, 24, made his home F1 debut this week after making his grand prix debut a few weeks before in Bahrain, where he finished 10th to earn a point. However, the pandemic caused a delay in Zhou’s F1 debut.

Zhou is keen to put on a Shanghai show, but he is unlikely to contend for the podium.

“I’m eager to give it my all, spread the enthusiasm with our whole team both at the racetrack and at home, and begin a new era in Chinese motorsport alongside the audience,” Zhou said on Monday.

It’s a chance to encourage and clear the way for next generations to get involved in the sport.

“My nation has long awaited this moment and adores racing.”

Fans around the city share in his delight.

At a recent fan gathering showing the Japanese Grand Prix, Hu Yanqin, 29, said, “As China’s first F1 driver, we are extremely proud of him.” The event included giant banners carrying Zhou’s face.

Fans welcomed Zhou at the airport upon his arrival last week, highlighting the excitement around the driver, who is in his third F1 season. This weekend’s event coincides with the release of “The First One,” a documentary about the racer, in Chinese theaters.

gaining traction

Even in the 1980s, vehicles were not common in China’s main cities, indicating that the country is relatively new to motor racing.

The inaugural Formula One Grand Prix of China was held in Shanghai in 2004. Before the epidemic, officials in the sport had discussed the prospect of holding a second Grand Prix in China each year.

Ma has personally seen the expansion of racing, having become the first Chinese driver to participate in a Formula One practice session during the 2012 Italian Grand Prix.

“It is much more popular now,” Ma said, noting that he had no idea where to take tests or even that a racing license even existed when he first began.

Due to contract disputes, Ma’s Formula One career was cut short with the now-dissolved HRT team. However, he continued to drive in other classes, including Formula E and the World Touring Car Championship.

He is now 36 years old and owns a go-kart track in Shanghai where wannabe speed demons race down a two-story looping course hidden in a mall basement.

Even throughout the five-year break from Formula One, China kept funding motorsport.

The island province of Hainan invested five billion yuan ($691 million) on an electric car racing track in 2022. Next month, Formula E will make a comeback to China, with Shanghai serving as the event’s host city for the first time.