SHANGHAI: Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes workforce have added a 13-year-old from China to their junior squad, with System 1 but to provide a driver from the world’s most populous nation.
Cui Yuanpu, who has been karting for the reason that age of six, joins a number of different potential F1 stars of the long run in Mercedes’ younger driver programme.
“He is the highest karting expertise from China, and there hasn’t been a Chinese language F1 driver but, so we’re wanting ahead to seeing how Yuanpu progresses and serving to him transfer up the racing ranks,” stated Mercedes driver growth adviser Gwen Lagrue.
China held the nation’s first grand prix in 2004 at its Shanghai circuit, and likewise has ambitions to stage a avenue race.
However there has by no means been a System 1 driver from China, which is seen as vital for creating the game’s ambitions there.
System 2 driver Zhou Guanyu, who’s prime of this season’s standings, is in pole place to alter that.
“I might say positively I am the closest ever to get into System 1 as a Chinese language driver,” the 22-year-old informed AFP earlier this 12 months, cautioning that “the final step is the toughest”.