Sauber to put brakes on career of Zhou Guanyu
Zhou Guanyu’s hopes of driving in Formula One next season appear to be have been dashed by his Sauber boss Alessandro Bravi, ahead of today’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
With Germany’s Nico Hulkenberg already joining the team, which will become Audi in 2026, the Chinese driver has been battling a host of others to secure the second seat for next year.
Now, however, it seems as though teammate Valtteri Bottas has won the race, with Bravi saying the 35-year-old, who in his third season with the team after stints at Williams and Mercedes, was “top of our list”.
Ferrari’s former principal Mattia Binotto has been appointed to lead Audi’s Formula One project.
Speaking in Baku, Bavi said that while Binotto was assessing drivers, there was no rush to announce a decision and a move may come in weeks.
“We are evaluating all of the options to see which is the best balance between a short-term experience and medium to longterm maybe young talent. There are potential candidates on both sides,” Bravi said.
“We are just looking at all the pros and cons and Mattia will take the decision based not only on 2025, but also in the medium to long-term strategy for the Audi F1 project.”
Bravi’s comments come a day after Bottas said talks were progressing and he was set on remaining in Formula One.
“I think for me it’s very clear where I want to be and where I most likely will be, which is in Formula One,” he said, adding it was now a “waiting game” but he was “less stressed”.
“We have a good relationship with Mattia and we have very open talks ... so things will eventually be set one way or the other.”
Other drivers in the frame include Brazilian Formula Two prospect Gabriel Bortoleto, a protégé of Aston Martin’s double world champion Fernando Alonso and member of McLaren’s driver development programme.
Alonso has praised the 19-year old, saying it was only a matter of time before Bortoleto made it to motorsport’s highest level.
Earlier in the week, Zhou appeared to acknowledge his first stint time in the sport was coming to an end, but told the UK’s Daily Mail, losing his seat would not be the end of the road.
“I feel like there’s plenty more I can show to the paddock, to Formula One,” Zhou said. “If I don’t have a seat, I don’t think it’s the end ... I still have the chance to come back, and I will continue to work hard. Right now, I’m not thinking about what happens next.”
Sauber are the only team to have not scored a point this season, and with a focus on the future, the car Bottas and Zhou have been asked to drive has struggled to be anywhere close to competitive.
Zhou has finished no better than 18th in his past five races, with Bottas managing a high of 15th. The pair were the last two across the line at the Dutch Grand Prix three weeks ago.
“The ups and downs just make you a better driver at the end of the day,” Zhou said. “Hopefully I can just put things together in the last few races.
“If I’m not staying, then I’m sure if the chance comes again I can still be better.”