Guanyu Zhou explains his choice to wear the No. 24 with Alfa Romeo

There are numbers that cannot be chosen simply by chance! Like the number of Pierre Gasly (n°10), in homage to the most famous French playmaker, a certain Zinédine Zidane. For Guanyu-Zhou, the equation is roughly the same. This number 24 has a particular double meaning, to which he decided to register for his arrival in F1 next year alongside Valtteri BottasAmong Alfa Romeo. Explanations.

The 24th of a basketball legend, obviously…

Like the No. 23 worn at the time by Michael Jordan, the immensely famous guard of the Chicago Bulls, the No. 24 in basketball has a name, a face, a state of mind... that of Kobe Bryant, tragically died in January 2020 during a helicopter accident, at the age of just forty-two. The former Los Angeles Lakers player is a true inspiration for many basketball fans. His exploits have even gone beyond the boundaries of his own sport, as evidenced by the latest statements from Guanyu Zhou, the young Chinese driver who is preparing to arrive in F1 in just a few weeks.

“On the 24th, I chose it as a tribute to Kobe Bryant obviously, he explains simply. He is a role model for me, someone from whom I draw enormous inspiration on a daily basis. He rocked my childhood. Before getting into motorsport, I was really into basketball, at the time he was playing for the Los Angeles Lakers [Kobe Bryant wore the colors of the Lakers from 1996 to 2016]. I'm a very big fan. I paid a lot of attention to his story: the way he trained and worked so hard, getting the best out of him every time he stepped on the floor. »

“I also remember that he always got up very early to go to the gym to train, then returned home to take his daughter to school before returning to train. When you reach such a level in your sport, and you continue to put so much intensity into it, it's impressive and truly inspiring. That's why I wear a lot of purple, a little yellow too [the colors of the LA Lakers], it's thanks to him. Totally! »

A constant inspiration for the future Alfa Romeo driver, who also said he wanted to wear this number for its symbolic significance in China, synonymous with luck and good luck charm: “2 and 4 make 6, this number brings luck for its inhabitants. » 

He will need plenty of it if he one day wishes to reach the same strata as his idol: the man of a single franchise, with five NBA titles and a twenty-year career at the highest level...