Zhou Guanyu has highlighted that the different responses to his and Oliver Bearman’s Formula 1 graduations show there is a prejudice towards Asian drivers.
Zhou was snapped up from the Alpine Junior Driver programme by Sauber for the 2022 season, becoming the first Chinese driver to compete in Formula 1.
In 2021, Zhou finished third in the FIA Formula 2 Drivers’ Championship, securing four wins across the campaign.
Still, with that year’s rookie champion Oscar Piastri failing to get a full-time drive on the Formula 1 grid, some speculated that Zhou’s signing with Sauber was down to his financial backing and nationality.
“It’s quite clear, in 2021 when I signed a contract with Alfa Romeo there was a lot of racist abuse people were giving because they didn’t follow my career,” Zhou told The Race.
“You come around with third place in F2, winning four races that year – and you see a driver outside the top 10 [in F2] at the moment is getting a seat, and there’s a lot of support for him.”
Zhou is referring to Haas’ 2025 acquisition Oliver Bearman, who has failed to put together a consistent campaign in this year’s Formula 2 championship with his Prema team struggling with setup on this year’s car.
“It shows [prejudice around] nationality is a reality,” Zhou explained.
“That’s difficult to change when you’re Asian, coming from different countries in Asia, but I’m not worried about that.”
There’s no doubt that Sauber’s hiring of Zhou was met with criticism, a lot of it being unfairly attributed to factors beyond his control and although he hasn’t set the F1 world alight – in part thanks to uncompetitive machinery – a point on his GP debut has set the tone for three seasons at Sauber whereby he has proved capable.
Bearman hasn’t been free of criticism either, although it is worth noting that his nationality hasn’t entered the conversation as it did in Zhou’s case.
If one were to look at the Briton’s F2 results this year alone, it would be hard to see why he has been given an F1 opportunity by Haas.
However, his rise through the junior ranks has been rapid.
The 19-year-old scored four wins in his rookie F2 campaign in 2023 and has been able to add another win this year amid Prema’s difficult campaign.
A Ferrari Academy driver, Bearman impressed when he was called up on short notice as Carlos Sainz’s understudy in Saudi Arabia in March, finishing in seventh place with little preparation.
Multiple tests for Ferrari and a bevvy of practice sessions for Haas have also proved he has the skills required to progress to F1 next year.
