Feature

22 Apr 2026

Get to know Zhenrui Chi, the latest member of the Aston Martin Aramco Driver Academy

From discovering motorsport through Japanese anime to traversing the globe to relocate in Europe at a young age, Zhenrui Chi's journey to becoming the Aston Martin Aramco Driver Academy's newest inductee has spanned cultures and continents.

Set to embark on a season racing in Formula Regional European Championship, with an Aston Martin Racing Green livery adorning his car, this is Zhenrui's story so far.

How did your motorsport journey start?

"The first thing that got me into racing was a Japanese anime about a racing driver. I really liked anime, and my dad really liked motorsport, and so we watched it together and there's where my interest began.

"We went to an indoor go-kart circuit where you could rent karts and I really enjoyed it. That was my first experience of driving. From there, we went to the Shanghai International Karting Circuit, which is where the Grand Prix circuit is, and I started really getting into it and going regularly. I was around five years old."

What have been the highlights of your career so far?

"I've got a few. One is the first win I got in Mini karts, although at the end I got disqualified because my weight was a few hundred grams under the weight limit, but it's still a fond memory.

"I had quite a few wins and podiums in China and Japan which were special but, after the global pandemic, I moved to Italy where it's more competitive and I got a few wins in the Junior category which meant a lot to me.

"I think my best race so far was getting my first podium in WSK, where I started 13th and finished second. That was a lot of fun."

How excited are you to be joining the Aston Martin Aramco Driver Academy?

"Obviously, my dream is to get to Formula One, and joining the Driver Academy is a really big step on that journey. It's a great opportunity. I'm really proud to be working with the team and I'm excited to learn from them.

"This is something I've dreamed about for a really long time, and to have support from such a great team is a really big confidence boost."

Is there anyone in the team you're particularly eager to meet?

"Fernando because I've loved watching him drive for as long as I remember, and Adrian Newey. As I've grown up, I've learned more about Adrian and his success and it's really impressive.

"Adrian's really inspired me to learn more about the engineering side of racing, and I really like understanding how the car works not just from driving it but from an engineer's point of view."

How important is it for young drivers to have that engineering understanding?

"In my opinion, being a racing driver is not only about driving; you have to understand how the different parts of the car work. Having that understanding helps you when making decisions with your race engineer on car setup so you can optimise it. It also makes you more adaptable inside the car, as you know what the car needs to respond to different variables in a race."

You moved to Europe from China at a very young age. What was that like? What challenges did you face?

"It was my dad who initially said we'd need to move to Europe if I was serious about pursuing a racing career, because ultimately that’s where the most competitive junior series are and where so many junior teams are based.

"He was very honest with me, and said it's going to take a lot of work and sacrifice to achieve my goals, but it's my dream and I said to him this is what I want to do.

"Before the pandemic, we moved to the UK where I was studying but I was mainly racing in Italy and, once the pandemic had passed, we moved there. My dad couldn't stay with me all the time, so I started staying with one of my coaches who's been with me from my early karting days; he's effectively my guardian now.

"My dad comes to visit every few months and I only go back to China maybe once or twice a year to see family.

"It's what I have to do to keep progressing and I really like living in Italy. I'm based near Lake Garda which is beautiful."

Do you have a favourite circuit? And where do you want to drive most that you haven't yet?

"Imola is the best circuit I’ve driven by far up to now; it just feels so unique compared to everywhere else I’ve driven. You've got so many different types of corner and the flow is of the circuit is really different compared anywhere else I've driven. It's a lot of fun.

"Everyone I speak to says Spa-Francorchamps is their favourite. I'm going to drive Spa later this year, so I'm looking forward to seeing how that compares to Imola."

You're making your debut in the Formula Regional European Championship (FRECA) this year. What are you expecting from the series?

"FRECA is a jump up from what I've done before but it's one I'm looking forward to making and, in my opinion, making a step up every year is what you should be doing as a driver. I'm driving with MP Motorsport, a team that has a lot of experience in single seaters, so I'm excited to go racing and I'm confident I can achieve a good result in this year's championship."

Your car will have an Aston Martin Racing Green livery. What does that mean to you?

"It will be very cool on track. There are only a few special F1 liveries on the track so having one of those, especially with the iconic Aston Martin wings, is a real honour."

How big is motorsport becoming in China?

"Even compared to when I started motorsport in China, its popularity has grown a lot, and especially after Zhou Guanyu got to F1 and raced in China for the first time.

"After that moment, a lot of people have been focusing more on F1 and lots of young kids have started karting.

"I'm also noticing some increased interest in my career. On Instagram, there are many Chinese people supporting me and I've seen some posts on Chinese social media platforms about me as well. It's really nice to have their support."

Who are your driving heroes?

"I have a few from different eras. Lewis Hamilton is one, because when I started watching F1 he was dominating and he was always the best driver.

"More recently, I've become a big fan of Max Verstappen. I love how he drives and how he gets the absolute maximum out of whatever he is driving.

"Another contemporary driver I like is Oscar Piastri. I think mentally he's very strong and he seems to remain calm no matter what happens.

"And of course I've heard a lot about Ayrton Senna. I think everyone has. He's a hero of mine too."

Do you have any superstitions or pre-race rituals?

"I do a lot of preparation and visualisation. They're not rituals as such but they help me focus on what I need to do.

"Before a race weekend starts, I always check past race videos from the same circuit to see what I can learn.

"And, when I get in the car before a race, I always think about a few different things such as possible outcomes after the start and how I'll approach each corner."

How many languages do you speak?

"I speak several because I've been lucky to live in a few different places.

"I speak Mandarin and can understand a few of the other dialects in China, though I can't really speak them myself.

"Obviously, I speak English, and I know a bit of Italian too. I'm working on that as much as I can given I live there!"

Can you drive on the road legally?

"I wish I could, but not yet. I'm old enough to pass in Italy but you can't do the theory test there in English. My Italian is improving, but still not the level to pass the test!

"I'm thinking I'll have to go to another country where I can do it in English."

Do you have any pets?

"I have a very young Jack Russell and when I was really young I had a few turtles. My grandma bought them on the same day that I was born."

What's your favourite food?

"That's a tough one. I'm very lucky to be from China and to live in Italy because they've two of the best cuisines in the world.

"I'm going to say Chinese food, but Italian is a close second. I love things like Bolognese.

"I don't cook a lot myself but I can make a steak or fried rice. I always use videos to help guide me when I'm cooking."

What do you do to relax?

"I spend quite a lot of time playing golf. Last year I was getting quite good but then I had a lot of races and didn't play for about three months. When I got back, I'd got a bit worse.

"I like playing padel when there's time with my friends. And I've recently started climbing; quite a few of my friends do it too and it's a lot of fun."

Ultimately, what do you want to achieve in motorsport?

"The obvious answer is get to F1. That's my dream and I am working towards that goal. As long as I'm racing in single seaters and developing and making progress, I'm happy."

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