The Formula 1 grid will have plenty of new faces on it in 2025 as teams complete their yearly driver shuffles.
Not only are some rookies making their way up, but big names like Lewis Hamilton and Carlos Sainz are changing teams too.
There are also the unfortunate few who will not have a seat next year after failing to find an opening, including the likes of Zhou Guanyu, Valtteri Bottas and Franco Colapinto.
It means that the only available roles left on the grid are backseat options. Red Bull have rejected a star driver to be their 2025 reserve due to having some much junior talent in the wings.
They also hold the only open seat left on the grid with Visa Cash App RB which they may or may not use to promote another rookie – Formula 2 runner-up Isack Hadjar.
It has set 2025 up to be a tantalising season with nine positions filled by different drivers – a figure which could rise to 11 in the coming weeks once Sergio Perez’s future has been confirmed.
Zhou Guanyu needs ‘one year off’ after tricky final season with Sauber
Zhou endured a fairly miserable final campaign with the Sauber team as he battled with an uninspiring car.
Unfortunately, his team will have two new drivers for 2025 with Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto set to take the reins.
He did manage to score their only points following a breakthrough Las Vegas Grand Prix upgrade which allowed them to compete in the midfield, but it was too late to keep his seat.
READ MORE: Valtteri Bottas sends five-word message to Zhou Guanyu ahead of their final race as Sauber teammates
Speaking to the Formula 1 website, he mentioned how much the season wore him down and left him needing a break.
“It’s a bit of a mixed feeling because as much as I would like to stay on the grid, I would like to start a different chapter, which still involves Formula 1 but with different people,” he said.
“I feel I need one year off. It’s been a mentally draining season.”
Which F1 team could Zhou Guanyu sign with for 2026?
Zhou does have the advantage of three full seasons of Formula 1 experience when it comes to negotiating for a drive in the future.
He never really got an opportunity to prove himself in a car which lagged behind the midfield at times. Bottas even admitted that Sauber’s biggest problem was that their car was too sensitive.
They will be hoping that Audi’s takeover of the team helps them to rectify some of their past issues and start to make inroads on their rivals.
READ MORE: Lando Norris sends seven-word message to Zhou Guanyu after he scored Sauber’s first points at Qatar Grand Prix
Seeing teammate Bottas struggle and fail to score points in this year’s car means even though he was actually quite impressive at some races, highlights how strong Zhou’s Qatar Grand Prix performance was.
He knows his way around a car and is familiar with how different teams operate (he was an Alpine junior before) so finding some new surroundings wouldn’t be an alien concept to him.
It would make the new Cadillac team a great option and give him an opportunity to take on a project which he can build from the ground up. They’ve invested heavily in the future and could be a fantastic fit for the Chinese driver.
