Sauber driver Zhou Guanyu looks set to leave Formula 1 on a relative high after losing his seat for the 2025 season.
No driver has been eliminated from qualifying in Q1 more often than Zhou Guanyu this season.
The Sauber had only advanced beyond the first session of qualifying twice before starting P13 at the Las Vegas Grand Prix.
Zhou was even running in the points for much of the race, however, Sauber’s pace deficit to the rest of the grid meant he had to set for a 13th-place finish.
The Chinese driver looks set to finish ahead of more experienced teammate Valtteri Bottas in the Drivers’ Championship.
| Position | Drivers’ Championship | Points |
| 1 |
Max Verstappen |
403 |
| 2 |
Lando Norris |
340 |
| 3 |
Charles Leclerc |
319 |
| 4 |
Oscar Piastri |
268 |
| 5 |
Carlos Sainz Jr |
259 |
| 6 |
George Russell |
217 |
| 7 |
Lewis Hamilton |
208 |
| 8 |
Sergio Perez |
152 |
| 9 |
Fernando Alonso |
62 |
| 10 |
Nico Hulkenberg |
35 |
| 11 |
Yuki Tsunoda |
30 |
| 12 |
Pierre Gasly |
26 |
| 13 |
Lance Stroll |
24 |
| 14 |
Esteban Ocon |
23 |
| 15 |
Kevin Magnussen |
14 |
| 16 |
Alexander Albon |
12 |
| 17 |
Daniel Ricciardo |
12 |
| 18 |
Oliver Bearman |
7 |
| 19 |
Franco Colapinto |
5 |
| 20 |
Liam Lawson |
4 |
| 21 |
Guanyu Zhou |
0 |
| 22 |
Logan Sargeant |
0 |
| 23 |
Valtteri Bottas |
0 |
However, that doesn’t mean a huge amount when neither driver has managed to score a point this year.
Sauber have decided to go in a different direction in 2025 ahead of Audi’s takeover the following year.
Zhou and Bottas are out, with Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto signed up for next year.
Journalist Joe Saward has now shared an update on Zhou’s future on his blog, and unfortunately, it doesn’t sound like Zhou’s preferred reserve driver role at Ferrari is an option.
Ferrari set to name Oliver Bearman as their 2025 reserve driver ahead of Zhou Guanyu
The report from Saward provides more details on the future of both Sauber drivers going forward.
Mercedes confirmed on Thursday that Mick Schumacher will be leaving his position as reserve driver next year.
This opens up the possibility of Bottas becoming Mercedes’ reserve driver next year as he seeks a way back into F1 going forward.
However, Saward has denied reports that Bottas will also take on an advisor role within the Mercedes team with teenager KImi Antonelli being brought in to replace Lewis Hamilton.
READ MORE: Sauber driver Zhou Guanyu’s life outside F1 from height to net worth
For Zhou, the report suggests that Ferrari are ‘not even talking’ to Zhou about becoming the team’s reserve driver.
While Saward admits that ‘one tentacle of the red team may not know what the other tentacles are doing’, Oliver Bearman looks set to retain his role as reserve driver.
That’s despite the driver once described as ‘world-class’ by Giedo van der Garde earning a full-time seat at Haas in 2025.
Will Oliver Bearman be Formula 1’s best-prepared rookie for 2025?
There are currently four rookies confirmed for next season including Bearman.
While he already has three races under his belt, Antonelli has done extensive private testing in previous cars to prepare for 2025.
Jack Doohan has been doing a similar program with Alpine while also running in a handful of FP1 sessions.
READ MORE: Who is 2025 Haas driver and Ferrari gem Oliver Bearman? Everything to know
Gabriel Bortoleto only signed for Sauber last month and as a McLaren junior driver, hasn’t been able to take part in similar sessions with the Swiss outfit.
However, he’s been concentrating on the Formula 2 championship and his winning habit will arguably give him more confidence than any of his rivals in a car that’s not expected to pull up any trees.
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