CHAPTER 222: ZHOU GUANYU VISITS
While Mercedes held rigorous internal reviews and issued clear warnings to its drivers after the recent incident, Williams took a more supportive approach with Wu Shi, focusing on reassuring him rather than dissecting the crash.
On June 13th, Wu Shi and his manager Sid met with Zhou Guanyu and his mother, who oversaw all aspects of her son's career and had dedicated everything to helping him advance in motorsport.
"Haha, Guanyu – long time no see!" Wu Shi said warmly, extending his hand.
"Brother Wu, great to see you too," Zhou Guanyu replied, shaking it firmly.
"Hello, Auntie," Wu Shi added, greeting Zhou's mother – they were old acquaintances from his early days in junior racing.
"Oh, Xiao Wu! It's been ages – look at you now, a rising star in F1, set to make your mark in racing history," she said with a proud smile.
Wu Shi chuckled and waved off the praise, keeping the mood light as they made small talk before turning to business.
"Guanyu will move up to FIA Formula 3 next year," Zhou's mother said, getting straight to the point. "We wanted to ask for your advice on the best path forward."
Wu Shi had expected this question – he was well-versed in the current F3 landscape and didn't hesitate to share his thoughts:
"Prema Racing is the strongest team in F3 right now – joining them gives you the best chance to compete for championships.
"Van Amersfoort Racing is another solid option – I can make introductions if you'd like – but their engineering and car setup capabilities aren't on par with Prema's."
Zhou's mother paused thoughtfully before continuing: "Even with strong results at Prema, it seems like…"
Sid interjected to clarify: "You might be overthinking this – in F3, results speak for themselves no matter which team you're with.
"Last season, Esteban Ocon finished second with Prema and secured Mercedes backing to move up to GP3 Series. Reports suggest if he performs well there, he could make the jump to F1 as early as next year."
Zhou's mother was already aware of these facts, but her concerns ran deeper. Guanyu was currently leading the F4 standings as part of the Ferrari Driver Academy, and she hoped he could follow a similar trajectory to…
Wu Shi and Sid understood her hopes – and her worries. Sid explained further:
"We've been impressed with Guanyu's performances – he's an outstanding young driver.
"However, Wu Shi and Max Verstappen's skip-level promotions to F1 were unique cases. That kind of fast-track progression won't be possible going forward."
The FIA had updated its promotion rules earlier this year. First, all F1 drivers must hold a full road driving license – an indirect requirement that they be at least 18 years old, designed to prevent premature advancement into the sport.
Everyone knew the risks of rushing talent – "pulling up seedlings to help them grow" only leads to setbacks. When Wu Shi and Verstappen joined the F1 grid at the start of the season, public opinion was skeptical at best; Verstappen's crash during the Monaco Grand Prix even sparked public outcry in some circles.
F1 isn't karting – accidents can range from minor contact to life-threatening incidents. No one wants an inexperienced driver on track, as it creates unnecessary risk for everyone involved.
In addition to the age requirement, the FIA was finalizing a Super License points system, which would mandate drivers earn a set number of points in junior categories before being eligible for an F1 license.
Zhou's mother was quiet for a moment, then said: "I understand all that. Since Guanyu's with the Ferrari Driver Academy, I was wondering if you could speak to Ms. Martina Catacchia – she's now in a leadership role there."
This was the real reason for their meeting. Wu Shi looked to Sid – his relationship with Ferrari was strained, after former chairman Luca di Montezemolo had rejected his application to join their young driver program, and current CEO Sergio Marchionne didn't appear to view him favorably.
Sid took over the conversation: "The Ferrari Driver Academy operates with its own structured processes, and Martina can't interfere with selection or progression decisions. But you can be confident there will be no unfair treatment – the system is built to reward merit."
They discussed next steps in detail, with Wu Shi listening quietly as Sid arranged for a formal meeting with Ferrari's academy leadership to address their concerns.
After Zhou Guanyu and his mother left, Wu Shi let out a sigh: "It's never easy for Chinese drivers trying to build careers in Europe. I'll help however I can, but I can't make decisions for Martina – she'll have to handle things based on what's best for the academy."
"Have you ever considered joining Ferrari yourself one day?" Sid asked suddenly, watching the pair walk away.
Wu Shi looked surprised: "I turned down their offer once already."
"I know – but if Martina continues to advance within the organization, things might change," Sid noted.
"Let's cross that bridge when we come to it," Wu Shi said, rubbing his temples. "Everything off the track is so complicated – it gives me a headache. I just want to focus on racing."
Back at Williams headquarters the next morning, major news broke across the motorsport world: Nico Hülkenberg had won the 24 Hours of Le Mans with Porsche, becoming the first active F1 driver to claim victory at Circuit de la Sarthe in more than two decades.
"Impressive," Wu Shi said when he heard the news, posting a congratulatory message to Hülkenberg on his social media accounts. "Balancing F1 and Le Mans – that's serious time management."
Most F1 drivers can't compete in other series during the season due to contract restrictions. Wu Shi's deal with Williams explicitly prohibited him from participating in races like Le Mans – likely for a mix of safety reasons and to protect the sport's reputation, as poor results in other categories could create negative perceptions of F1 among fans.
With the Austrian Grand Prix approaching at the end of June, there was more news: the German Grand Prix, originally scheduled for mid-July, had been removed from the 2015 calendar due to funding shortfalls and track infrastructure issues. This left the Red Bull Ring as the closest option for German fans hoping to watch F1 live.
Despite this, ticket sales were down significantly – 30,000 fewer than expected for the circuit's second year back on the schedule. While drivers focused on preparing for the race, the FIA and F1 management were working urgently to address the track's operational challenges.