Guanyu Zhou is in danger of losing his place for next season.
Guanyu Zhou has driven Alfa Romeo for two seasons. PDO
Guanyu Zhou is in danger of popping out of the F1 series participation list for next season.
Valtteri Bottas Zhou, 24, who drove as a team mate for Alfa Romeo for the previous two seasons, is without a valid contract for next season. Zhou’s continuation in his current team should have been a foregone conclusion a couple of weeks ago, but now unexpected twists and turns have appeared in the contract negotiations.
Although Zhou has proven himself to be a capable driver, his F1 dream has been made possible largely by money from the corporate world in his native China. Sauber, the organization that runs Alfa Romeo’s F1 team, needs every euro in circulation to enable its F1 operations.
Audi’s entry changes this dynamic. The German car giant wants to succeed in Formula 1, so it is ready to put the required resources on the table for success.
Bottas told Iltalehte in Zandvoort that Audi will finance the team already next season, although it will not officially join the F1 series until the 2026 season. This flow of money reduces the need for Zhou’s supporters.
Especially when the severely failing Chinese economy has also hit Zhou’s supporters. F1 journalists are told that Zhou wants not only a personal salary increase for the next contract, but also a smaller amount of money to bring to the team.
Sauber does not like the equation. Because there is no longer any compelling need for Zhou.
The junior division of the Swiss team is maturing Theo Pourchaire. The 20-year-old Frenchman is currently leading the Formula 2 series and his rise to Formula One is only considered a matter of time.
If Pourchaire were to win the F2 title already this year, Sauber would have no need to keep him on the sidelines for the 2024 season.
Bottas has a contract with the team for next season, so Zhou may very likely lose his place to Pourchaire.
If this happens, the chances of the Chinese driver to continue in the series are dependent on one card. The only realistic place to drive is at Williams, but on the spot by Alex Albon there is a lump in the chest.
Zhou has achieved ten World Championship points in his F1 career, which has lasted just under two seasons. Four of them have come this season. Bottas has collected five points this season and 49 last season.