Zhou Guanyu was a motorsport pioneer as soon as he raced an F1 car for the first time back in 2022. During that weekend, almost four years ago to the day, the 26-year-old became the first Chinese driver to race in Formula 1 and then the first to score points, as he recovered to P10 on his Alfa Romeo debut.
Over three seasons and 68 race starts, he showed speed, determination and resilience, building a strong following before stepping into reserve roles with Ferrari and then Cadillac where he can use his racing experience to help behind the scenes.
Zhou has a quiet and cool presence, but has always expressed himself though fashion. From the moment he stepped into the F1 paddock, he turned media day into something closer to a runway, using his platform to showcase his love of creative outfits and curated looks. Let’s explore the fashionable world of the stylish Shanghai driver…
Striking style in the paddock
Growing up around fashion thanks to his fashion designer mother, Zhou has always wowed the paddock with imaginative and intentional looks. His paddock style is a confident blend of high-end streetwear and luxury fashion, going for darker palettes, mainly blacks, punctuated by bold choices in footwear and accessories.
He gravitates towards Dior, Rick Owens, and Chrome Hearts, naming all three as his top brands and citing designer Kim Jones as a primary sartorial inspiration. He has appeared in the paddock in Prada, Issey Miyake, KidSuper, and Lululemon, taking a more eclectic and joyful approach rather than a repetitive image.
You won’t be surprised to hear that fashion icon Lewis Hamilton is one of Zhou’s inspirations. Speaking to Crash.net, Zhou said: “It’s been great in the last few years watching Lewis showing a different style in the paddock. In the past, maybe 20 years ago, racing drivers were just about racing, but we still have our enjoyable personal stuff to show on Thursdays, I think it’s great.
“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 sets Zhou apart most clearly is his insistence on dressing himself. Zhou takes a more instinctive approach to fashion, rarely having a stylist pick out clothes. Instead, he picks from the latest collections online, focusing on staying true to his own fashion sense.
His jewellery choices are equally considered. He has a fondness for silver pieces rather than gold and is comfortable with accessories that many athletes would avoid. His trainer collection is a point of pride, telling Harper’s Bazaar that he’d save his favourite limited-edition shoes, noting their uniqueness and irreplaceability.
Creativity outside of clothes
Zhou’s helmet designs have become an extension of his fashionable philosophy. He retains approximately 99% creative control over his helmet designs, telling CGTN: “I want a helmet that represents myself, my city and my country.”
For 2026, his Cadillac helmet features 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 explained.
His love of art has certainly influenced his on- and off-track style. The 26-year-old said: “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 over the years have included a Space Jam helmet for Miami, a Shanghai metro headpiece for China, and a leather design for Austin.
Chinese cover star
Zhou’s transition from a paddock-style icon to a fully-fledged fashion star has been swift and emphatic. His most recent editorial moment came in March 2025, when he appeared on the cover of Harper’s Bazaar China, shot in Ferrari red as he settled into his role as reserve driver for the Scuderia. Photographed by Chen Man, the images caused quite a stir online.
In 2024, Zhou posed for the cover of GQ Sports wearing a jacket covered in toy cars. The editorial showcased his deep understanding of fashion – it’s rare to see a Formula 1 driver take to modelling so naturally, but Zhou has the confidence that works well on camera. Zhou has also graced the covers of WSJ, ELLE Men and Esquire in recent years. A testament to his reputation in the fashion world.
The Cadillac driver has made waves in person too, attending the Dior Homme Spring 2024 show at Paris Fashion Week in his official capacity as the brand’s China ambassador. His KidSuper outfit at the 2023 Australian Grand Prix attracted considerable attention, thanks to the brand’s commitment to combining fashion and art – something that fits perfectly with Zhou’s ethos.
The Cadillac chapter: stars, stripes, and style
Zhou’s role with Cadillac this season opens an intriguing new dimension to his fashion story. As a new team, Cadillac aims to foster a new audience and fandom, especially in America – and Zhou’s friendship with race driver Valtteri Bottas and distinct passions should help with that mission.
The raw, urban confidence of American streetwear culture has long appealed to Zhou, so keep an eye out for his paddock looks this year…
Home race hero
China doesn’t yet have a rich motorsport history, making Zhou’s rise to F1 all the more impressive. Moving to Sheffield in the UK when he was 13 exemplifies how determined Zhou was to make it in the sport. By the time he made it to the very top, he was desperate to race in front of his home crowd.
When the 2024 Chinese Grand Prix finally arrived, after years of postponements, the atmosphere was electric.
“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 name drowned out all other sound at Shanghai International Circuit, and at the finish, he parked on the home straight to show his appreciation to all his fans. He was given a special moment on the grid in recognition of the historic occasion, and the emotion understandably got the better of him.
This week, Zhou returns to his hometown as reserve once again, but his status as a fashion icon and national hero has already been secured. He boasts more than four million followers across Weibo, RedNote, and Instagram, while you won’t be able to escape his face on every Shanghai office building, subway station and shopping mall while Formula 1 is in town.
And who knows what striking fashion looks he will be showing off when he hits the paddock at his home circuit when the F1 circus arrives…