Sauber driver Zhou Guanyu knows that he won’t be on the Formula 1 grid in 2025.
After three seasons with Alfa Romeo and then Sauber, Zhou Guanyu discovered in the build-up to the Las Vegas Grand Prix that he would be replaced after three seasons in the sport.
Zhou knew much earlier in the year that either he or teammate Valtteri Bottas would be moving on, as Nico Hulkenberg was signed from Haas, with one eye on the upcoming Audi project.
However, despite Zhou admitting he wanted to stay at Sauber, they decided to go in a different direction and drop both of their drivers for next year.
Sauber have instead brought in McLaren junior and F2 championship hopeful Gabriel Bortoleto for next year.
It means with three races to go, Zhou and Bottas are already aware of their fate and now have to try and find a new seat on the grid as well as do everything they can to prevent Sauber from suffering a pointless campaign.
Zhou has since been linked with Ferrari to become their reserve driver for 2025, having previously been part of their academy setup.
Lewis Hamilton will join Charles Leclerc at the Scuderia next year, giving the team one of the strongest line-ups on the grid.
However, a report from Autoracer.it has suggested that a much less experienced driver is expected to take up the role at Ferrari.
It leaves the Chinese driver wondering what his options are as he hopes to stay in F1 even if he’s not on the grid.
Arthur Leclerc expected to become Ferrari reserve driver instead of Zhou Guanyu
Hamilton and Leclerc will be hoping to fight for both titles next year, but as this season has shown, it’s never a bad thing to have a strong reserve driver in case something happens.
Oliver Bearman played that role brilliantly at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix as he scored six points when Carlos Sainz required an appendectomy.
The young Brit has now earned a full-time race seat at Haas, although Bearman could be recalled by Ferrari next year in unique circumstances.
The report from Autoracer.it suggests former F1 driver Antonio Giovinazzi has already been confirmed as one of Ferrari’s reserves for 2025.
He’s now expected to be joined by Arthur Leclerc, who has been described as ‘clinical’ by former junior team boss Charles Pic.
Leclerc is expected to race alongside his brother during FP1 in Abu Dhabi, something that hasn’t happened in decades.
READ MORE: Everything you need to know about Scuderia Ferrari from team principal to factory
It’s unclear whether Leclerc or Antonio Fuoco will take part in the post-season test with Ferrari as Hamilton will still be unavailable and Bearman is no longer considered a rookie.
The report goes on to say that there is ‘no evidence’ that Ferrari have evaluated Zhou as an option to become their newest reserve driver.
However, they don’t rule out a third driver being brought in to play the role in case there’s a weekend where both Giovinazzi and Leclerc are racing elsewhere.
Zhou Guanyu driving new-look Sauber at the Las Vegas Grand Prix
Bottas and Zhou have formed a very strong relationship on and off the track at Sauber, but Audi’s impending takeover has seen the team go in a very different direction.
While both drivers may be disappointed not to be in F1 next season, they’re unlikely to miss the current car they’re driving.
READ MORE: Sauber driver Zhou Guanyu’s life outside F1 from height to net worth
Sauber missed out on a couple of good opportunities to score points at the beginning of the season due to a critical issue with their pit stops.
Zhou managed to come home in 11th at the season opener in Bahrain, but since then, they’ve never looked in contention.
Sauber have launched a new livery for the Las Vegas Grand Prix and at least the car may look faster during the upcoming night race.
However, it’s hard to imagine they’ve taken the necessary steps forward to be competitive between now and the end of the campaign.
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