Confessions of Shanghai's biggest F1 fan
Jue Ling with driver Barichello in Singapore (left) and Shanghai (right) at the 2010 F1 races.Jue Ling is not your ordinary 26-year-old Shanghainese girl.
Instead spending her time at local malls or parks, she haunts F1 tracks around the world. That's her waving banners until her arms can’t hold them up any more and afterward camping out for hours in front of hotels where drivers are staying -- all in the name of love.
F1 love.
Over the years Jue has gone from a mere racing fan to one of Shanghai’s most ardent F1 devotees, a woman who would do just about anything for her idols.
Schumacher out, Barrichello in
Only wanting to be identified by her online moniker, “Jue Ling,” Jue holds a regular day job. She’s a social worker and, despite her sports obsession, she maintains an ordinary daily schedule. In the office, she’s quiet, pleasant and hardworking. After work, she hangs out with friends, sings karaoke and shops online.
Going overseas to watch the race is undoubtedly full of obstacles, but you can’t give up just because of them. Few journeys in life are without obstructions.— Jue Ling, Shanghai F1 fan
If you didn’t know about her love of F1, you would not know that she’s the city’s biggest fan -- until race day, that is.
“I have been following the F1 for a very long time,” says Jue.
“In the beginning, I, like everyone else, was a Schumacher fan," she says, smiling. "Over time though, I found myself becoming more attracted to the Brazilian next to him [Rubens Barrichello]. He is just as talented as Schumacher, and he seems more amiable.”
Though she fell in love with the sport in high school, Jue never considered entering an F1-related profession, believing that work and hobbies should be kept separate.
“Everyone told me that I should find a job to do with the F1," she says. "But I am worried that if I did that, I would be at my busiest whenever Barrichello is in Shanghai and would not be able to focus on being a professional fan.”
Traveling the world for F1
Jue has attended every China Grand Prix (aka the "Shanghai F1") since the race came to Shanghai in 2004. Each year she shells out for a VIP ticket.
Dissatisfied with simply watching the race in China, in 2006 Jue Ling ventured overseas on her own. Her first stop was Malaysia. Two years later, she attended a race in Australia.
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Her best memory was encountering Barrichello at Melbourne’s legendary Albert Park circuit. He had accidentally dropped his cap, she picked it up and to thank her, he placed the cap on her head. Jue describes the episode as “unforgettable.”
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Jue met with a setback, however, when her visa application was rejected. Although she knew she didn't stand much chance of getting approval, she re-submitted her application and much to her surprise, the visa officer handling the case was a fellow F1 fan. She was given the green light.
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“Going overseas to watch the race is undoubtedly full of obstacles, expected and unexpected -- the lack of a traveling partner, difficulties with planning the route, language differences -- but you can’t give up just because of them," says Jue.
“Few journeys in life are without obstructions. If you give up just like that, you will never get to experience the joy of triumphing over setbacks. I always take the plunge first and only think about solutions when I encounter the problems.”
In the beginning, I, like everyone else, was a fan of Schumacher. Over time, I found myself becoming more attracted to the Brazilian next to him [Barrichello].— Jue Ling, Shanghai F1 fan
In 2010, her efforts paid off when she went to the Singapore F1. Her idol Barrichello invited her into the paddock, a place restricted to team members, the media and VIPs. Barrichello even introduced her as his biggest fan.
Claiming the Shanghai F1
F1 fans who have been to the Shanghai International Circuit can't fail to notice the mammoth Barrichello banner hanging on the grandstand each time the race rolls around. Put up by Jue and her fellow supporters, it is always situated opposite his garage.
“We want to let Barrichello know that he has many fans here, and very ardent ones too," she says. "We want this grandstand to be ours.”
In 2006, the banner caught the attention of the Brazilian media, who featured Jue and her crew in a number of reports from the race. They had never expected that Barrichello would have so many strong supporters in Shanghai.
Not happy to settle for a single banner, Jue searches for new ways to show her support -- an endeavor not lost on her favorite driver.
After the annual Shanghai leg of the F1, Jue’s latest banner was featured on the homepage of Barrichello’s official website.
“I love everything they do in Shanghai,” Barrichello was once quoted as saying about Jue and her fellow devotees.
Even the F1 star’s cousin was moved by Jue’s enthusiasm, and was part of the team behind the banner design in 2010.
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“I only want to watch [Barrichello] this year,” say Jue. “But, if it’s possible, I’d like to take him to dinner or karaoke. He invited me to dinner last year and I had a great time, I should reciprocate this year.
“One problem is, I’m not really sure where to take him. I feel like I’ve done everything I can as a fan. We’ll see what comes up.”
