It’s no secret that a lot of drivers in F1 are avid fans of sports outside of motor racing, and Zhou Guanyu may be the biggest basketball fan out of the lot.
Lewis Hamilton is regarded as the F1 paddock’s resident fashionista, with the seven-time world champion regularly turning heads with the outfits he rocks up to race weekends in.
However, given the lavish lifestyle that a lot of F1 drivers lead, it’s no surprise that the majority of them are now keen on flaunting the most exclusive clothing items they can get their hands on, and Zhou Guanyu’s latest gift from Cadillac might just take the cake.
Cadillac gifted Zhou Guanyu a pair of unreleased Kobe 5s during their 2026 F1 season media day
During a behind-the-scenes video from Cadillac, which shows the ins and outs of their media day ahead of the American constructor’s debut F1 season, a gift for reserve driver Zhou Guanyu showed up.
It happened to be a pair of Kobe Bryant sneakers that the average Joe may find impossible to get their hands on.
Specifically, it was a pair of the Nike Kobe 5 Protro Year of the Mamba in the ‘Triple Black’ colourway, a version that was left unreleased to the public.
Zhou was over the moon with the gift and expressed his gratitude to the team by saying, “That’s the Kobe fours or five. The fives, that’s dope.
“You know what, this is amazing for my collection because I’ve got the red and gold ones, got the purple and gold ones, and now I have the full Black Mamba ones. So thanks, guys.”
New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson showcased the rare sneakers during the NBA’s 2025 All-Star Weekend, donning the blacked-out kicks in a tribute to one of the sport’s greatest legends.
As alluded to by Zhou, the sneakers were initially released in just two colourways, the ‘Eggplant’ version and the ‘University Red’ edition.
The ‘Triple Black’ colourway was first unveiled by Bryant’s widow, Vanessa Bryant, on Instagram, before being gifted to several sporting stars around the world.
Kobe Bryant inspired Zhou Guanyu to race with #24 in Formula 1
The Los Angeles Lakers legend was one of Zhou’s biggest inspirations during his rise through the single-seater ladder.
In fact, Zhou spent the entirety of his tenure in Formula 1 with the #24 as his driver number in a nod to the five-time NBA champion.
In a 2024 interview with CNN, the Chinese star revealed what Bryant’s legacy means to him, saying, “I wanted to have a number that means something to me.
“Kobe was an athlete I grew up watching him all the time, playing for the Lakers. I just had a massive inspiration. I just wanted to make sure that this number gives me energy.”
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