‘A bit lonely’: Zhou Guanyu admits something that had ‘never happened before’ ruined his race in Canada.
Zhou came home in 15th at the chequered flag – last of the remaining cars – and was the only driver lapped although that was partly down to another awful pit stop from the team – something that has ruined Sauber’s races all season.
Sun 16 June 2024 13:00
Ben Evans
F1 Oversteer

The Canadian Grand Prix was another race to forget for Sauber as they remain rooted to the bottom of the Constructors’ Championship. Zhou was speaking to Motorsport.com after the Canadian Grand Prix and admitted that he was baffled by one aspect of the race in Montreal. Zhou Guanyu admits lack of understanding of the 2024 Sauber car.

Asked what went wrong in Canada, Zhou said: “Just struggling across the different compounds. At the halfway stage of the race, I was a bit out of the race anyway, so a bit lonely. We have something already planned back at the factory to check everything, [and] make sure we are starting a little bit more from scratch. These two weekends, I feel like something is not clicking right and this weekend, all these mistakes, they never happened before.”

“So we try to understand all of our issues and have some plans for the next race.” When asked if he was worried about the rear of his 2024 Sauber due to the crashes he suffered earlier in the weekend, Zhou added: “It is everywhere, to be honest, just four-wheel sliding. There is not a massive limitation, we are just lacking grip. It is quite simple but not an easy one to get progress.”

‘Never happened before’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/zho...ace-in-canada/


Zhou desperate to remain in F1 for 2025
19:03 Sat, 15 Jun 2024
Darius Needham
FormulaNerds

Zhou Guanyu has stated that he desperately wants to remain in Formula 1 next season. However, he is eager to avoid becoming a reserve driver for 2025 as he looks for a full-time seat. Zhou finds himself at a very important stage in his F1 career. He is one of several drivers currently who find themselves without a seat going into next season.

However, it is looking unlikely at the moment that both Zhou and his team-mate Valtteri Bottas will be at Stake F1 in 2025. Audi have already announced the signing of Nico Hulkenberg for next season, meaning he will drive for Stake F1 next season. The Hinwil-based team are also reportedly interested in Carlos Sainz, as he looks to keep his place in the sport as well.

Speaking to the media, including racingnews365.com, Zhou is hoping that he can do enough to stay in F1 with a full-time seat, as he admits that he doesn’t want to be a reserve driver. “I don’t want to be the reserve, I don’t want to take a year off,” Zhou said. “I don’t think [at] this kind of age of my career, I don’t really want to take a year off because Formula 1 when you take a year off, it’s difficult to come back.”

‘Looks for a full-time seat’;

https://www.formulanerds.com/news/zh...n-f1-for-2025/


Zhou desperate to avoid missing 2025 F1 seat
Zhou Guanyu is one of several drivers still without a seat for the 2025 F1 season.
15 June 2025
Nick Golding & Aaron Deckers
RacingNews365

Zhou Guanyu has revealed that he is eager to avoid becoming a reserve driver next season, just to remain in the F1 paddock in 2025. The Chinese driver is one of several in the championship without a deal for next year, with a move elsewhere looking set to be his only way of remaining on the grid.

Audi has already signed Haas' Nico Hulkenberg for 2025 and 2026, meaning the German will race for Stake F1 next season. Carlos Sainz also reportedly has an option to join the Hinwil-based team, should he wish to do so. It means the chances are incredibly high that both Zhou and Valtteri Bottas will need a new home for 2025, with Zhou in particular not being open to accepting a reserve position.

Despite being keen to avoid becoming a reserve driver at the age of 25, Zhou is aware that there might become a point this year where he has to consider accepting a reserve position. However, at least for now, the sport's first star from China is not thinking about a third driver position. If we have to then we have to see, we have to consider but for the moment I'm not trying to think in that way," insisted Zhou.

‘Eager to avoid becoming a reserve driver next season’;

https://racingnews365.com/zhou-despe...g-2025-f1-seat


‘A bit lonely’: Guenther Steiner expects Alpine to snub 53-race driver despite £27m sponsorship package
Sat 15 June 2024 07:00
David Comerford
F1 Oversteer

Guenther Steiner says Zhou Guanyu financial appeal is ‘overrated’. Another driver who will hope to be in the Alpine conversation is Zhou Guanyu. The team know Zhou well after he spent two years as their test driver in 2020 and 2021. Like Sauber teammate Bottas, he’s looking for a seat elsewhere for 2025. And he’ll hope a huge financial package comes to his aid.

Zhou is the first full-time Chinese driver in F1 history and he brings commercial ties from his homeland. One journalist believes he can offer around £27m in that regard. But speaking on the Red Flags podcast, former Haas boss Guenther Steiner suggested that this wouldn’t be enough to persuade Alpine. With the backing of a giant manufacturer like Renault, he believes they won’t be governed by such incentives.

“It’s a works team,” he said. “I think they will get the best driver possible. I think in the current status of F1, this is overrated, ‘who’s bringing money or not?’. Especially the big teams, with the budget cap. They know what they want. They want success.”

‘Wouldn’t be enough’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/gue...rship-package/


Haas tipped to reject €30m+ offer from driver in danger to secure ‘sure-fire’ F1 2025 lineup
17 Jun 2024
Oliver Harden
PlanetF1.com

Haas are set to turn down an astronomical financial offer from Zhou Guanyu’s sponsors to sign Esteban Ocon as Oliver Bearman’s team-mate for the F1 2025 season. Appearing on Auto Motor und Sport’s Formula Schmidt show, respected reporter Schmidt has claimed that Zhou is trying to tempt Haas “with a lot of money” – believed to be as much as €35million – as he tries to rescue a place on the grid for F1 2025.

“Zhou Guanyu has been linked with a lot of money. There is talk of €30-35m. But they can’t do that, because the problem with Bearman is that he’s a rookie. You have to add someone who is a sure-fire scorer. And it is evident at Sauber that [Zhou] is certainly not.”

At the recent Canadian Grand Prix, Zhou revealed he is targeting a return to Alpine as Ocon’s replacement for F1 2025, having emerged from the team’s junior academy. “I think the other [Sauber] seat [alongside Hulkenberg] is still available, so we still have an option [to stay],” Zhou told reporters in Montreal.

‘Turn down an astronomical financial offer’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/haas-o...f1-2025-lineup