Zhou Guanyu spoke in Singapore prior to the F1 mini break and gave an insight into how his plans are shaping up for next year. The Chinese racer admitted that he has already had discussions with other motorsport series but that F1 is his priority. The Shanghai hometown hero also explained that if he has to wait a year to be able to return to the pinnacle of motorsport then he is willing to do so.
Due to the fact that Sauber have already announced that German racer Nico Hülkenberg will race for the team on a long-term contract (as the team prepares to become a factory team for Audi) there is only one more seat available in the team.
Zhou has been in the Sauber ranks since 2022 and he was asked in Singapore how difficult it is to be going through a season like this (pointless in the standings) and to be in the position he finds himself in?
“Yeah, it’s really difficult because I feel like at the beginning year, the car was performing reasonably quite good in that midfield battle,” claimed Zhou. “Obviously, we had this issue during the [pit]stops, which affects massively the timings. I think otherwise, it would – at least two times we could score. I think Valtteri [Bottas] would score in Australia. I would probably score in Jeddah and vice versa. So, things like that can easily bring us some points, which then on the table, it won’t look as bad as where we have been struggling now. But in fact, it just seems in the wrong time that it happens that we are losing one performance on the others.”
Zhou went on to explain how the timing is not great either because it is such an open driver market and that doesn’t help his situation. However, he did also say that since Mattia Binotto had joined the team, the dialogue has still been positive.
“But on the other side, I think myself and also Mattia, once he got into the team, he is clear on where we are. And for me, I just want to give it all. And that’s what he wants to expect. I can do the best I can with the car. And here we are talking, of course, about the future.”
The Chinese driver also explained during the press conference that Formula 1 remains the priority but there are other offers on the table elsewhere: “At the moment, all I can say is that there’s already several very good, let’s say, chances teams in other series for a drive for next year…But at the moment, of course, I want to still get the Sauber seat. And if by any chance I don’t have that, we have to think about the rest.”
“But I think most importantly is that wherever I go, I need making sure that I still, you know, making sure that the door in F1 doesn’t close at that time. Because I think a lot of drivers still make a comeback. So, you want to make sure that you don’t make the opportunity, maybe in other series, then you kind of just close your door.”
It was put to Zhou Guanyu that Mick Schumacher has been successful in managing to twin both a racing programme and being a reserve driver to keep his foot in the F1 door here. With that in mind, is that a potential route? His reply showed that he is determined not to end up in a similar situation.
“I feel like he waited a little bit too long. Because I think the weight he had, he could have even better chances in other places. Because obviously he right now still couldn’t get a seat for next year, which is a little bit difficult if I’m in his position. So yeah, I’m definitely thinking, if I do wait, there will be a very short limited time I want to do. And then I can do as a career. That’s not a problem for the rest of my remaining racing career. But then Formula 1 needs to be very quick, efficient. And when there’s a chance to grab, if you continue to wait, you could be a third driver forever.”
The Zhou Guanyu effect was clear to see in Shanghai when the Grand Prix weekend sold out largely due to his presence. A point highlighted by his special post-race parking spot on the grid in front of the main grandstand. Any race series would surely benefit from the China market and one would imagine that the F1 powers that be do not want to lose such a marketable racer from their championship long-term.
If Sauber doesn’t retain him, Zhou is happy to wait until 2026 for an F1 opportunity but will not wait indefinitely as he stated: “I am in a situation where, if I have to wait for a year, I am ready to do it. But if the wait exceeds one or two years, then I will probably make the decision to leave this championship.”
