“It’s a real opportunity for us but I think it’s also for F1”explains to the AFP the French Frederic Vasseurteam manager Alfa Romeofor which he runs Zhou Guangyu.
“This is going to have an impact on the visibility of Formula 1 in China, increase its media and audience potential”esteem Jean-Baptiste Gueganspecialist in geopolitics of sport.
“The program of Liberty (the owner of the commercial rights of F1) is to increase the visibility in all points, and especially the globalization of the product, and this participates in it”Explain.
For Alfa Romeothe presence of Zhou Guangyu give to “Easier to publicize the brand, to make it known in a Chinese market in which it is not necessarily present, since it does not represent the same type of luxury as Mercedes or BMW”points out this expert.
Frederic Vasseur said at the end of February, during the pre-season tests of Montmelothat the popularity of F1 on China is an idea that needs time to consolidate and that “It’s not always easy because of culture problems, but it’s sure to be a very important opening to a huge market.”
Zhou Guangyu He is aware that his nationality has been important in making the leap to the premier competition in motorsports.
“F1 was already in full growth in recent years (in China), without me being there yet, but with my arrival, of course, a big step forward will be taken”explained last month in Barcelona the pilot of the Asian giant.
His bid to reach the F1 has forced him to make sacrifices from a very young age, abandoning China at the age of 12 to be able to move with his family to United Kingdom: “It is super difficult to go to Europe (…) being still a child, the culture is very different. I have sacrificed many things to be a better driver”.
Zhou Guangyu has come to a team that was ninth out of ten last season, so expectations are limited for now, remember Jean-Baptiste Guegan.
“Even with a bad driver, you have access to the Chinese market. That is an advantage above all commercial and marketing. I think they have come to him for it”underlines.
in another dimension“it could be an argument for Chinese sport, in the context of its politicization”esteem, “and it is not impossible that it will serve the sports propaganda of Xi (Jinping, the Chinese president) for a story that shows that China is everywhere and is capable of performing in everything”.
F1, however, will have to wait until 2023 to see Zhou Guangyu driving in your country.
The Grand Prix of China from F1, already canceled in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic, is absent from the 2022 calendar for the same reason. It is in principle scheduled to return in 2023, something that Zhou Guangyu look forward to.
“I want to run ahead of them, the atmosphere will be amazing!”is excited about the prospect of competing at home, although at the moment he has only signed for one season with Alfa Romeo.
Source: Ambito
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