Sauber will be parting ways with Chinese driver Zhou Guanyu at the end of the season having confirmed its driver lineup for next year.
It was unlikely that Zhou would retain his seat after a disastrous 2024 campaign, having scored no points along with teammate and 10-time F1 race winner Valtteri Bottas.
After contesting his first home race at the Chinese Grand Prix this year, Zhou enjoyed a moment post-race when he was able to stop in front of the main grandstand and take in the sight of his adoring home fans.
The Chinese driver’s management is said to be ‘so disappointed’ that he was unable to show his potential in F1, having only scored 12 points in his career after 2022 and 2023.
Zhou said he was seeking other options on the F1 grid following Sauber’s announcement, with journalist Lawrence Barretto confirming that he was in talks with various teams over a reserve driver role in a post on social media website X.
Zhou Guanyu eyes reserve driver role for 2025 F1 season
Zhou is reportedly eyeing a role as a reserve driver for the 2025 season, as he believes it is the best chance for him to potentially get a seat back on the grid for the future.
According to Barretto, Zhou’s ‘priority’ is to stay in F1 over potentially looking at drives in other championships.
“Zhou says he was in talks with teams about a reserve role before Sauber told him he’d lost his seat. He says his priority is to stay in F1, rather than find a race seat in another series. Talks with additional teams started after the Sauber news,” said Barretto.
In addition, Scott Mitchell-Malm believes it “gives a path back to a race seat” for a race seat after Zhou told him it was a “relief” he was let go following a tough season in a post on Bluesky.
“I’ve been struggling a lot with the car, together with myself, confidence over one lap, and then not having the upgrades over many races,” Zhou told Mitchell-Malm.
What is next for Zhou Guanyu after his Sauber departure?
Now that all of the seats are effectively taken up for the 2025 F1 grid, Zhou will find it difficult to keep his F1 career alive without a reserve role.
Zhou has a few options including at Ferrari, where Oliver Bearman will need to be replaced having been snapped up by Haas for next year. Alpine is also a possibility for Zhou, after he once drove on their Academy programme in junior single-seaters.
READ MORE: Sauber driver Zhou Guanyu’s life outside F1 from height to net worth
Guenther Steiner labelled Zhou as an ‘animal’ on track in his latest book, praising him for not having an ‘ego at all’ and for being a ‘pretty unassuming character’ that does all of his talking on track.
Damon Hill also expects he will leave behind a legacy to be proud of, having been F1’s first Chinese driver to race full-time.
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