Zhou reveals racist abuse after F1 promotion
Zhou reveals racist abuse after F1 promotion
Zhou Guanyu has revealed to being subjected to online racist abuse after signing his first F1 contract with Alfa Romeo last year.
The 23-year-old is the first full-time Chinese F1 driver and one of just six on the grid not born in Europe.
Racism has unfortunately hit the headlines in recent days after seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton was subjected to a racist slur from Nelson Piquet while Juri Vips used similarly derogatory language while playing online.
The Estonian has since been axed as Red Bull's test and reserve driver.
Asked whether he had been racially abused, as he sat alongside Hamilton during an FIA press conference ahead of the British Grand Prix, Zhou said: "As Formula 1, we all try to stay very united together on the track and in the paddock.
"The way the world is going, with more people using social media, of course, you get more trouble, and from my side, I have a perfect example [of racist behaviour].
"I experienced that when I signed the contract [with Alfa Romeo] last year. Obviously, there was quite a lot of negativity and racist comments that never should happen in any part of a sport or in the world in general."
F1 united in support of "younger generation"
Former supremo Bernie Ecclestone has further inflamed a sensitive situation in F1 by defending Piquet, as well as Vladimir Putin and the war on Ukraine by claiming he would "take a bullet" for the Russian president.
Such comments sparked Hamilton into stating the "old voices" of the F1 paddock needed to be silenced and they should not be granted air time or print space.
Agreeing with the Mercedes driver, Zhou feels explaining the changes being made now will create a more inclusive environment long into the future.
"As drivers, we are trying to help the world going forward and it is not just for us, it is for the younger generation, to set a better example for them," he added.
"So everybody should stay united. It doesn't matter where you are coming from, what job you are doing. That is the way we are trying to build up this platform in Formula 1."
Related
Change your timezone:
Latest News
Newey set for CRUCIAL meeting over Red Bull future
- 9 minutes ago
F1 News Today: ‘Absolute b******s’ Newey claims slammed as Norris INJURED while partying
- 2 hours ago
Hamilton hit with SURPRISE Ferrari claim as new Cullen relationship blossoms - GPFans F1 Recap
- Yesterday 23:57
Current F1 star qualifies for world championship race on two wheels
- Yesterday 22:57
Ricciardo given HUGE boost after upgrade claim
- Yesterday 21:57
‘Absolute b******s’ - Newey’s wife SLAMS Red Bull F1 claims
- Yesterday 20:57
Related news
F1 team to change names between races in 2024
‘If Shrek was in F1’ - Fans BLAST team’s new 2024 car
F1 team announce SIGNING of 'remarkable' driver ahead of 2024 season
F1 team hint new livery with Drake video tease
F1 Standings
Drivers
- Oliver Bearman
- Charles Leclerc
- Carlos Sainz
- Lando Norris
- Oscar Piastri
- Pierre Gasly
- Esteban Ocon
- Sergio Pérez
- Max Verstappen
- Alexander Albon
- Logan Sargeant
- Lewis Hamilton
- George Russell
- Nico Hülkenberg
- Kevin Magnussen
- Fernando Alonso
- Lance Stroll
- Valtteri Bottas
- Zhou Guanyu
- Daniel Ricciardo
- Yuki Tsunoda
Races
- Gulf Air Grand Prix of Bahrain 2024
- Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Australia 2024
- MSC Cruises Grand Prix of Japan 2024
- Grand Prix of China 2024
- Miami Grand Prix 2024
- Gran Premio dell'Emilia Romagna 2024
- Grand Prix of Monaco 2024
- Grand Prix du Canada 2024
- Gran Premio de España 2024
- Grand Prix of Austria 2024
- Grand Prix of Great Britain 2024
- Grand Prix of Hungary 2024
- Grand Prix of Belgium 2024
- Heineken Dutch Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Italy 2024
- Grand Prix of Azerbaijan 2024
- Grand Prix of Singapore 2024
- Grand Prix of the United States 2024
- Gran Premio de la Ciudad de Mexico 2024
- Grande Prêmio de São Paulo 2024
- Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix 2024
- Qatar Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi 2024
About GPFans
GPFans is a multi-platform, multi-language brand dedicated to Formula One coverage. We bring you all the ins and outs of the sport, 24/7, everything from up-to-the-minute news and features to the latest viral stories and clips.We believe that a new generation of exciting, outspoken drivers will make F1 more popular than ever before, and we want to give our users access to as much of their heroes as possible, on and off the track. From Lewis Hamilton to Max Verstappen, Daniel Ricciardo to Sebastian Vettel, we provide in-depth analysis of every every Grand Prix in the season, from Australia to Abu Dhabi.
With Formula One under the new ownership of Liberty Media, how the sport is being covered is evolving, and GPFans will look to be at the heart of this progression into new media, as one of the fastest-growing sites covering the king of motorsports.
Follow us on your favorite social media channel
Corporate & Media
Innovatieweg 20C7007 CD, Doetinchem, Netherlands
+31645516860