CAN you guess the thriller sports activities star?
I’ll offer you some clues:
Zhou Guanyu talks about how his favorite monitor is Silverstone, even after an accidentCredit score: Equipped
Would you be capable of guess who he was if we simply informed you he was fairly first rate at snooker?Credit score: Equipped
- He went to high school in Sheffield
- He likes Yorkshire puddings
- He’s fairly first rate at snooker
- His nickname was Steve however he now prefers Joe
- He famously drove the other way up
All proper, you’re by no means going to guess, it’s Chinese language F1 driver Zhou Guanyu.
Zhou moved from Shanghai to Sheffield as a 12-year-old to pursue his F1 dream, racing for a junior karting group and spending three years as a pupil at Westbourne Faculty.
It was clearly the suitable transfer as a result of he went on to hitch Ferrari’s driver academy, scored 5 F2 wins together with Silverstone and Monaco, and is now in his second full season in F1 with Alfa Romeo.
So, apparent first query: United or Wednesday?
Zhou stated: “Actual Madrid. As a result of I used to be an enormous Ronaldo fan after I was youthful.
“However my health coach is initially from Sheffield and he’s a United supporter. He retains me up to date.
“It’s spectacular they’re again within the Premier League.”
That is Zhou’s first time again within the Metal Metropolis for ten years and he stated: “It’s a spot filled with recollections.
“Every thing feels precisely the identical. All people is so laid again and chilled.
“I met some old-fashioned associates for dinner final evening and it was so good to meet up with them.”
After a fast body of snooker, Zhou drives me to his old-fashioned in Alfa’s sensible Giulia Competizione.
Zhou drove again to his old-fashioned in Alfa’s sensible Giulia CompetizioneCredit score: Equipped
He held a fast Q&A with pupils within the college corridorCredit score: Equipped
It’s not his. It’s borrowed.
Zhou has the much more sensible Giulia Quadrifoglio at residence in London.
Now for a fast Q&A with pupils within the college corridor.
It’s not lengthy earlier than Zhou’s first-corner horror smash at Silverstone crops up.
One lad asks: “Did the halo (cockpit safety system) save your life at Silverstone?”
Zhou replied: “Sure, positively.
“Whereas I used to be the other way up, the halo was scratching alongside the bottom, protecting my head simply above the bottom.”
The sickening crash noticed Zhou’s automobile flip over after colliding with George Russell’s Merc, skid the other way up for 100 metres, then catapult over the tyre boundaries and find yourself wedged in opposition to the catch fence.
He tells me later: “I strive to not look again to the crash.
“I skip the footage.
“However Silverstone remains to be my favorite monitor in the entire world.
“It’s so quick and flowing, you actually must belief the automobile.
“Maggots and Becketts are such cool corners.
“Once I return this yr, I received’t hesitate.
“I’ll simply go on the market and go for the utmost like I do each weekend.”
Again to the college Q&A and one other pupil asks: “Who do you want extra, Senna or Schumacher?”
Zhou replies: “Fernando Alonso.
“I’ve been an Alonso fan ever since I used to be a child and now I’m racing in opposition to him.
“I don’t understand how he’s nonetheless racing at his finest degree however I believe he is among the best ever drivers.”
Q&A session over. A lot of autographs. After which it’s time to go.
As we head for the exit, one lad passes Zhou in a hall and tells his mate: “That’s Zhou Guanyu.
“He tries to beat Max Verstappen.”
Zhou replies: “Give me a Pink Bull and I’ll do it.”
As tha received thi key mi duck?