Chinese F1 driver Zhou Guanyu

When Fernando Alonso drove his Renault F1 car crossing the line at the 2005 F1 Chinese Grand Prix, he might not have expected that his win could be such a game-changer in China's motorsport.

His win was witnessed by then 6-year-old Zhou Guanyu, who later became a professional racing driver, participating in Formula One from 2022 to 2024.

Though this year Zhou is not competing, the anticipation is still palpable as the Chinese Grand Prix returns to ignite the Shanghai International Circuit this weekend. 

The hosting of the F1 race in Shanghai is already a milestone that goes beyond high-speed competition. It has been considered to symbolize China's commitment to growing its automotive industry and nurturing a genuine motorsport culture that bridges technical prowess with grassroots enthusiasm, analysts said.

"International racing is not only a high-performance sport but also a powerful catalyst for cultivating engineering talent and fostering innovation," Zhou Haoran, an automobile industry insider and former F1 commentator, told the Global Times on Thursday, referring to the significance of hosting the Shanghai F1 race.

In the interview with the Global Times, ex-Haas F1 team head of aerodynamics Arron Melvin also highlighted how the rigor and pace of F1 could inspire a methodical approach to problem-solving, a mindset that Chinese automotive companies are eager to adopt as they push forward with advancements in electric vehicles (EVs) and smart mobility solutions.

"There's a huge opportunity because racing really is as fast paced and focused as advertised. But racing is more specific and therefore cultivates a more refined approach that is afforded because of the big budgets as well," Melvin told the Global Times. "The fast iterative and a direct feedback approach of racing can be a big value to the automotive industry. It's more about engineering system and mindset than particular technologies." 

Melvin expressed optimism about the benefits of integrating diverse engineering cultures, emphasizing the importance of cross-cultural collaboration in creating groundbreaking solutions on and off the track. 

"The international motor sports endeavor activity has a lot of high-quality engineering to offer. That's why any country can benefit a lot," Melvin told the Global Times. 

"There will be substantial benefits from learning how F1 does its business, which definitely can help the Chinese automotive industry."

Chinese presence

There is a handful of Chinese engineers who have stepped into F1, considered the pinnacle of motorsport.

Li Qin, a Chinese engineer who previously worked as a senior aerodynamicist with Scuderia Ferrari F1 team, is considered a pioneer among her peers. In addition, her story with the Prancing Horse has been popular and inspiring among Chinese F1 fans.

She recalled her early passion for motorsports, lamenting the lack of accessible pathways for aspiring engineers and drivers. 

"When I was 15, I didn't even know where to start," she told the Global Times, referring to the environment where opportunities in China were scarce compared to Europe or America, where young talents have well-established channels to enter the sport.

Her story of entering the world's most popular F1 team mirrors the broader narrative in China: individual effort and hard work continue to pave the way for a thriving motorsport culture, even as the industry transitions from textbook learning to real-world application.

Deng Yeming, a former Williams F1 team aerodynamics engineer, also underscored the importance of the Chinese Grand Prix. 

"Continuously hosting the F1 event can cultivate the public's enthusiasm for racing cars, automobiles, and even technology, enabling more and more people to understand racing, a sport that pursues the ultimate limits," Deng told the Global Times. 

Nurturing the grassroots

Both Li and Melvin believe that underdeveloped grassroots racing infrastructure could hamper the development of motorsports racing culture in China. 

But Melvin also saw this gap as a significant opportunity for growth. He emphasized that nurturing local talent is critical not only for building a competitive racing team but also for fostering an industry-wide culture of innovation. 

The importance of such grassroots initiatives is echoed in the broader context of China's automotive evolution. As Chinese companies invest heavily in EV and self-driving technologies, the disciplined, detail-oriented approach of F1 engineers can be adapted to enhance everyday vehicles. 

Melvin noted that while there are notable examples of technology transfer, the primary value of racing lies in its engineering methods and problem-solving approaches. 

These methods enhance the training of individual engineers, improve company systems, and promote efficient, cost-effective research and development focused on understanding the fundamental physics of a problem.

Inspiring next generation

Beyond the technical debate, the influence of motorsports on Chinese culture is perhaps most vividly illustrated by the success of drivers like Zhou Guanyu. 

"Significant changes have taken place. Ever since I entered F1, the level of attention and public interest in racing cars have increased substantially," Zhou told reporters on the sidelines of the Chinese Grand Prix on Thursday, referring to the motorsport culture in China. 

Thanks to the continuous hosting of the Chinese Grand Prix, local fans no longer see racing as an imported spectacle but as a homegrown passion that reflects China's rapid progress in technology and industry. 

F1 commentator Zhou Haoran believes that continued exposure to top-tier racing events not only boosts the local economy, but also ignites enthusiasm among young engineers and drivers who dream of competing at the highest levels.

"Zhou Guanyu's presence in F1 has been of great help on many levels. It gives drivers' parents confidence, letting them know that it's not that Chinese people are not suited for F1, and it's definitely not an issue related to race," the commentator said.  

The venue of Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai Photos on this page: IC