Cao keeping F1 dream on track
Among the 10,000 runners who participated in Shanghai’s Run the Track event on Tuesday, Cao Zhuo was undoubtedly the one who knew the track best.
As a Formula 4 champion, the 17-year-old is well acquainted with the Shanghai International Circuit and was ideally qualified to drive the lead-out car as the race got underway.
He later jumped out of his vehicle to join the field and run a lap of the course.
“I really want to thank the organizers of the half marathon for allowing me to be the navigator,” said Shanghai native Cao, who won this season’s Southeast Asia F4 Championship.
“I’ve driven around the Shanghai International Circuit many times. I remember every corner and every straight. But this time I used my feet to take the turns and have a whole new experience of the track.”
Cao started out in motor sports as a kart racer. Next year he will step up to the F3 championship, with F1 his ultimate goal.
“I cannot imagine a life now without driving,” said Cao. “I have a clear vision of becoming an F1 driver in the future and I will carry on until my dream is realized.”
Hanging out with F1 royalty like Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel at last month’s FIA Prize Giving Ceremony has spurred on Cao even more.
His mother, though, would rather he hangs up his helmet — especially after teenage British F4 driver Billy Monger lost both of his lower legs in a horrific high-speed crash at Donington Park in England last year.
Cao was driving very close to the incident at the time and his mother burst into tears as she watched on the big screen.
Even after hearing that her son was safe, she was shook up by the experience for some time.
“Well, it happens in races,” said the unflappable Cao. “This is what we do as motor-racing drivers, so we cannot be afraid. We have to push the limits.”
His father, Cao Chaofan, is proud of the daring path his son has taken in life.
“I could be just like everyone else, taking my son for nice meals on weekends and buying gifts for him, but I don’t think he would learn anything or have any truly unique memories,” said his dad.
“Now when he looks back on his childhood, he will remember driving in his first race at the age of eight and coming third.”