Exploring Formula 1 trend star and Cadillac reserve Zhou Guanyu’s fashion journey as he returns residence to Shanghai for the Chinese Grand Prix

Zhou Guanyu was a motorsport pioneer as quickly as he raced an F1 automobile for the primary time again in 2022. During that weekend, nearly 4 years in the past to the day, the 26-year-old turned the primary Chinese driver to race in Formula 1 after which the primary to attain factors, as he recovered to P10 on his Alfa Romeo debut.

Over three seasons and 68 race begins, he confirmed velocity, dedication and resilience, constructing a robust following earlier than getting into reserve roles with Ferrari after which Cadillac the place he can use his racing expertise to assist behind the scenes.

Zhou has a quiet and funky presence, however has all the time expressed himself although trend. From the second he stepped into the F1 paddock, he turned media day into one thing nearer to a runway, utilizing his platform to showcase his love of inventive outfits and curated appears to be like. Let’s discover the trendy world of the trendy Shanghai driver…

Striking fashion within the paddock

Growing up round trend because of his clothier mom, Zhou has all the time wowed the paddock with imaginative and intentional appears to be like. His paddock fashion is a assured mix of high-end streetwear and luxurious trend, going for darker palettes, primarily blacks, punctuated by daring decisions in footwear and equipment.

He gravitates in direction of Dior, Rick Owens, and Chrome Hearts, naming all three as his prime manufacturers and citing designer Kim Jones as a major sartorial inspiration. He has appeared within the paddock in Prada, Issey Miyake, KidSuper, and Lululemon, taking a extra eclectic and joyful method quite than a repetitive picture.

You gained’t be stunned to listen to that trend icon Lewis Hamilton is one in all Zhou’s inspirations. Speaking to Crash.internet, Zhou mentioned: “It’s been nice in the previous few years watching Lewis exhibiting a unique fashion within the paddock. In the previous, possibly 20 years in the past, racing drivers have been nearly racing, however we nonetheless have our satisfying private stuff to indicate on Thursdays, I believe it’s nice.

“Obviously he was the first one to be open in that way and it wasn’t easy. I fully remember the first time he did that. A lot of people were saying ‘why is he wearing that?’, and I was one of the guys who liked his fashion sense. I just really want to be myself, either on track or off track, so that was what I tried to do.”

Perhaps what units Zhou aside most clearly is his insistence on dressing himself. Zhou takes a extra instinctive method to trend, not often having a stylist select garments. Instead, he picks from the most recent collections on-line, specializing in staying true to his personal trend sense.

His jewelry decisions are equally thought of. He has a passion for silver items quite than gold and is snug with equipment that many athletes would keep away from. His coach assortment is some extent of pleasure, telling Harper’s Bazaar that he’d save his favorite limited-edition footwear, noting their uniqueness and irreplaceability.

Creativity exterior of garments

Zhou’s helmet designs have develop into an extension of his trendy philosophy. He retains roughly 99% inventive management over his helmet designs, telling CGTN: “I want a helmet that represents myself, my city and my country.”

For 2026, his Cadillac helmet incorporates a blue and white porcelain design topped with Shanghai’s iconic skyline: “I think the most representative thing is the blue and white porcelain, that’s traditional about China, so it just reminds me of where I’m coming from,” he defined.

His love of artwork has actually influenced his on- and off-track fashion. The 26-year-old mentioned: “I got more into fashion because as a kid I always loved drawing and art, and I just like to design stuff in general, and I think it makes perfect sense with fashion.”

Some of his most notable lids through the years have included a Space Jam helmet for Miami, a Shanghai metro headpiece for China, and a leather-based design for Austin.

Chinese cowl star

Zhou’s transition from a paddock-style icon to a fully-fledged trend star has been swift and emphatic. His most up-to-date editorial second got here in March 2025, when he appeared on the quilt of Harper’s Bazaar China, shot in Ferrari pink as he settled into his position as reserve driver for the Scuderia. Photographed by Chen Man, the photographs induced fairly a stir on-line.

In 2024, Zhou posed for the quilt of GQ Sports carrying a jacket lined in toy automobiles. The editorial showcased his deep understanding of trend – it’s uncommon to see a Formula 1 driver take to modelling so naturally, however Zhou has the boldness that works effectively on digicam. Zhou has additionally graced the covers of WSJ, ELLE Men and Esquire in recent times. A testomony to his popularity within the trend world.

The Cadillac driver has made waves in particular person too, attending the Dior Homme Spring 2024 present at Paris Fashion Week in his official capability because the model’s China ambassador. His KidSuper outfit on the 2023 Australian Grand Prix attracted appreciable consideration, because of the model’s dedication to combining trend and artwork – one thing that matches completely with Zhou’s ethos.

The Cadillac chapter: stars, stripes, and magnificence

Zhou’s position with Cadillac this season opens an intriguing new dimension to his trend story. As a brand new workforce, Cadillac goals to foster a brand new viewers and fandom, particularly in America – and Zhou’s friendship with race driver Valtteri Bottas and distinct passions ought to assist with that mission.

The uncooked, city confidence of American streetwear tradition has lengthy appealed to Zhou, so hold a watch out for his paddock appears to be like this 12 months…

Home race hero

China doesn’t but have a wealthy motorsport historical past, making Zhou’s rise to F1 all of the extra spectacular. Moving to Sheffield within the UK when he was 13 exemplifies how decided Zhou was to make it within the sport. By the time he made it to the very prime, he was determined to race in entrance of his residence crowd.

When the 2024 Chinese Grand Prix lastly arrived, after years of postponements, the ambiance was electrical.

“Still to this day, I have goosebumps thinking about it,” he recalled. “Nobody expected the atmosphere we had, the whole grandstand… it was a race to remember.”

Chants of his title drowned out all different sound at Shanghai International Circuit, and on the end, he parked on the house straight to indicate his appreciation to all his followers. He was given a particular second on the grid in recognition of the historic event, and the emotion understandably received the higher of him.

This week, Zhou returns to his hometown as reserve as soon as once more, however his standing as a trend icon and nationwide hero has already been secured. He boasts greater than 4 million followers throughout Weibo, RedNote, and Instagram, when you gained’t be capable to escape his face on each Shanghai workplace constructing, subway station and shopping center whereas Formula 1 is on the town.

And who is aware of what putting trend appears to be like he will likely be exhibiting off when he hits the paddock at his residence circuit when the F1 circus arrives…