"F1's return with a Chinese driver will inscribe a new, inspiring chapter for our nation's motorsports narrative," he said.

His 14th-place finish made Zhou the first Chinese driver to complete a home F1 Grand Prix. "Scoring this result provides huge confidence moving forward," Zhou said after the race. "While a long season remains, this milestone reinforces the necessity to keep improving and inspire more young Chinese to pursue their racing dreams."

Zhou's rise, to some extent, offers a snapshot of Shanghai's own game-changing journey in developing its auto industry over recent decades. In 1958, China's first premium sedan, the Fenghuang, was produced here. Over 1.28 million new energy vehicles are driven on Shanghai's roads last year, the most in any city in China.

The latest customs data shows China became the world's top auto exporter last year, with over 5.22 million vehicles exported. The nation's rapid innovation and manufacturing prowess have caught the world's attention.

Jiading district has emerged as a hub for the domestic auto industry, which started to accelerate in the 1980s, and took off in the new millennium. In 2001, the district set the target to build an international automobile hub. A year later, national sports authorities greenlighted building a world-class international racing circuit — paving the way for the Shanghai International Circuit.