Zhou 'honored and proud' to race in China; Bottas' day concludes in disappointment

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Kick Sauber faced another challenging race at the Shanghai Grand Prix, failing to score points as their cars struggled amidst fierce competition. However, the weekend was not without its emotional highs, particularly for Zhou Guanyu, who, despite finishing in 14th place, received a standing ovation from his home crowd. 

His teammate, Valtteri Bottas, experienced a less fortunate race day, retiring prematurely due to a mechanical failure.

"Zhou's race weekend was particularly poignant as it marked his first Formula 1 race on home soil, a milestone that had both the driver and thousands of fans buzzing with excitement. He had shown promising pace earlier in the weekend, finishing ninth in the Sprint, raising hopes among his supporters for a successful race day. Unfortunately, starting towards the back of the grid on Sunday, Zhou had a mountain to climb, but he managed to fight his way up to 14th. His efforts were recognized post-race when he was invited to park on the main straight alongside the top three finishers—an honor that overwhelmed him emotionally.

As Zhou knelt on the track, visibly moved, he reflected on the significance of the moment. "As much as I say I want to focus and treat this like a normal race weekend, but when you see the crowd from Friday [onwards], all packed into the grandstands and every time you come out of the garage they are all cheering you on the grid,” he explained. The significance of being the first Chinese driver to compete in the Chinese Grand Prix in twenty years was not lost on him, and it was a moment filled with pride and emotion.

While the drivers had their individual struggles and moments, the team as a whole showed signs of improvement, particularly in their pit strategy. After a series of problematic races with pit stop issues, Kick Sauber's crew performed commendably in China, executing quicker and more efficient pit stops which Zhou acknowledged as a significant improvement. "I think we managed well in the last two stints, also the pit stop crew has done well, three stops and two or three of them were mostly clean so it’s a very good improvement and we are back in the race fighting," he said.

Zhou was granted the chance to park on the grid post-race, a privilege usually reserved only for the top three Zhou was granted the chance to park on the grid post-race, a privilege usually reserved only for the top three finishers - Getty Images

Bottas, on the other hand, faced disappointment as his race came to an abrupt end. Running in 11th and battling for points, he suddenly lost drive, forcing him to retire. The incident not only ended his race but also played a pivotal role in the day's outcome. Initially triggering a Virtual Safety Car, the situation escalated when marshals couldn't move his car because it was stuck in gear, necessitating a full Safety Car. This turn of events significantly impacted the race dynamics, affecting the strategies of other teams and drivers.

Reflecting on his untimely exit, Bottas expressed frustration but remained focused on identifying the cause of the failure. "It was really sudden, just lost the drive and the engine turned off basically and car stopped," he recounted. "I don’t know what caused it yet, but it is something to investigate. Yeah, it’s really disappointing because it seemed like we were fighting for points today."

Despite the setbacks, the weekend showcased moments of resilience and emotion, particularly from Zhou, who not only had the support of the crowd but also demonstrated the growing capabilities of Kick Sauber as they continue to evolve and tackle the challenges of the Formula 1 season.