According to the 24-hour PSI readings, it’s over 190 in Singapore—well within the unhealthy range. No amount of haze, however, can put a halt to the fervour of the Formula One Grand Prix weekend. Road closures. The influx of brand collaborations splashing out. Enthusiastic tourists in town donning some form of race paraphernalia. Whether you’re a listless doom-scroller or an angsty driver stuck in traffic, one couldn’t deny the impact and affluence of F1 even if they tried.

Ahead of the big weekend, China’s first F1 driver Zhou Guanyu has just wrapped up his cover shoot with Esquire Singapore. It’s been a hectic day for Cadillac F1 Team’s reserve driver—he’s just arrived in town, shuttled to The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore, primed and prodded for the camera, and pulled in the hot seat for press.

Yet, unbothered by the incessant chatter of his reps and the time stamp on our interview, the 27-year-old has his wits about him. “This is the dream that I’ve been working towards all my life,” he tells me in English, slightly accented from his growing years spent in the United Kingdom.

Like any passionate romance, it was love at first sight for Zhou—a five-year-old boy on the sidelines of the first-ever Grand Prix in Shanghai in 2004. “I was so impressed by the speed, the noise of the engine, and the way the drivers effortlessly handled their cars on the track,” he marvels. “That sort of ignited everything for me—I started to follow the sport and races around the world on television.” Eventually, he started karting, recalling his first few days behind the wheel to be easy. “Back then, I already had a clear vision of how to control the pedals and wheels,” he recalls.

After winning multiple national titles in China, it was clear that this wasn’t just any childhood hobby. So, with his parents’ blessing, at the small age of 12, he packed his bags and moved halfway across the world to advance his racing career.

“It was a big decision for our whole family. By relocating to Sheffield, England, it meant that I was going professional. My chances of succeeding were slim to none, considering there wasn’t a successful example for me to follow, so we had to figure out a way to make it somehow,” he recalls.

While in the UK, Zhou had to navigate between language and culture differences, his studies and racing all at the same time. “Learning how to speak English was important, as that affected how I could make friends and how I could learn more about driving.”

As he entered the big leagues, the boy who was used to claiming the podium back home soon found himself lagging behind in the midfield.

“It was heartbreaking to experience at that point in time. I felt like I had to work my way up all over again,” he admits. As humbling as that was, it gave the aspiring driver even more fuel to work harder.

It didn’t matter what the weather forecast was, even heavy rain couldn’t deter Zhou from racing. He stresses: “Anytime that I wasn’t in school, I was at the race track. There wasn’t any time for celebrations or rest time on the weekends. I needed to sacrifice all of that for practice. I always wanted to be better.”

Chasing a dream like Formula One requires full-time dedication and commitment; a tenacity that Zhou hasn’t eased up on since he was 12. He was also well aware of the advantages he didn’t have coming from China. “When you are a Chinese driver, you don’t have the support from the country. There’s no manufacturing involving F1, nor is there any junior programme academy that can help pull you along.”

Hence, everything boiled down to Zhou’s results on the track. From 2015, he made his way from Formula Four and Formula Three in European junior single-seater series to Formula Two (as part of Virtuosi Racing) and finally broke the glass ceiling in 2022 as China’s first full-time F1 driver with Alfa Romeo.

The journey to get there, however, wasn’t a bed of roses. Along the way, he was splintered by multiple podium losses, crashes, mechanical issues and the like—basically setbacks that any self-respecting F1 driver carries around like battle wounds.

There was, however, one defining moment with Fernando Alonso at his debut in the F1 Grand Prix weekend which set everything in place.

“I had just won my free practice, feeling nervous and sitting in Fernando’s car. He was my all-time Formula 1 idol, a driver that I grew up watching. And he simply said: ‘Just enjoy the moment in this car. Don’t think about anything else and give it everything you can.’ That piece of advice gave me a sense of relief, which helped me achieve great results and ultimately a contract with Alfa Romeo.”

But heavy is the head who wears the crown. The mantle of being your country’s “first-something” is a double-edged sword, but one that Zhou wields with honour while never letting his guard down.

“There are always going to be a lot of eyes on you. Coming from a massive country like China, the pressure was intense. But I knew one thing: I didn’t want to be in F1 just for the title. I want to be in F1 to score points, beat my rivals and make a name for myself in the sport. I’m proud that I was able to do all of that in the beginning,” he tells me.

Three years, 68 Grands Prix. Zhou took on the F1 grid like a champ—first with Alfa Romeo then with Kick Sauber. In his first year, he scored points but also experienced a terrifying first-lap collision in a race in Silverstone. But just like clockwork, he returned to the driver’s seat after surviving the crash, fully determined to resume his rookie campaign.

He continues: “In a sport like F1, you’re racing 24 races in a year. There’s not a lot of time you can have to enjoy your win. Once a good result has been achieved, you’re preparing for the next one. People always remember your last race. That’s what makes this sport so intense compared to anything else.”

Ultimately, his race-seat run in the F1 concluded after Kick Sauber opted for a different driver line-up in the end of 2024. Instead of wasting time licking his wounds, Zhou swiftly shifted gears—joining Ferrari as a reserve driver. There, he worked on simulator programmes and car development, gaining valuable exposure to the engineering processes of a winning team.

This year, he begins a new chapter with Cadillac as a reserve driver, alongside drivers Checo Perez and Valtteri Bottas, in a team that’s making its F1 debut. Beyond the razzmatazz of the race day, Zhou fills important shoes that most fans might not see on the circuit—whether it’s countless tests in the simulator before and after the race weekend or liaising with the engineers on last-minute fixes. “I work on what needs to be improved, bring it to the track and have the drivers try it out. Above all else, I need to always be ready to step up, in the event that Checo or Valtteri is unable to.”

To ground himself amid the intensity of the sport, the answer is always home for the Chinese driver.

“There [are] really only two weeks in a year that we don’t need to think about racing or driving. Usually, I stay with my friends and family, away from the crowds, and it’s always a nice feeling to go back to Shanghai,” he says wistfully. Adding: “I also recently got a cat, so I would long to come home to spend time with her.”

So, he’s a newly-minted cat dad. But before that, Zhou’s known for being quite the fashion breakout star. He reps Tommy Hilfiger this afternoon, as part of the American brand’s collaboration with Cadillac. On the paddock, many a photograph would pit one dashing Zhou at ease in streetwear, favouring the likes of various fashion houses. He remarks: “Fashion is all about being yourself. I love baggy silhouettes, [and] Tommy Hilfiger has great jean options. At the end of the day, I just want to feel comfortable in what I wear.”

Perhaps it’s the result of the tumultuous racing career he’s had, or that he simply had to grow up faster than boys his age. But there’s a palpable calm to the Cadillac reserve driver. He’s reserved yet approachable, humble yet assured in where he’s ultimately going.

As for the destination in question? Staking his claim back on the grid. “I feel like there’s definitely some unfinished business,” Zhou concludes.

Photography: Shawn Paul Tan
Videography: Jaya Khidir
Creative Direction and Styling: Asri Jasman
Hair: Christian M using SCHWARZKOPF PROFESSIONAL OSIS+
Makeup: Kenneth Chia using NARS
Photography Assistant: Chay Wei Kang
Styling Assistants: Ashley Guan and Erica Zheng
Location: The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore