Upclose with F1 development driver Adderly Fong
Racecar driver Adderly Fong has just been appointed as a development driver for the Lotus Formula One team, making him the first Hongkonger to sit behind the wheel of an F1 car. The 25-year-old tells Nicholas Cheung about learning to drive on a PlayStation and his ambitions to become the first ever Chinese F1 driver.
HK Magazine: How did you get started in car racing?
Adderly Fong: When I was 14, my father brought me to a track day and I saw Formula Renault racing for the first time. One year later on my 15th birthday, I did my first test for Renault. I skipped school every Thursday that year and trained with my first-ever coach, Michael Ho. Each session he would take the car out from his team and lead me around every lap. I felt really grateful since I only used to play on PlayStation! He helped me build up speed really quickly. I did my first race in Shanghai at the age of 16.
HK: Who is your Formula One idol?
AF: Michael Schumacher is still the best of the best. I do respect such an old racing driver who still brings the fight to the young blood. This mentality played such a big role [in my career choice]—it inspired me a lot.
HK: Do you earn the big bucks?
AF: I would say yes and no. I put all the sponsorship into my sports career, as the better equipment you have, the better the results. Motorsports is like any other sport: The more practice you do, the faster you get. But during the process you need fuel, expertise, and people to run the car for you. All these come at a cost. Therefore, I am actually not earning a lot—but I want to!
