Zhou Guanyu is yet to confirm where he will be racing in 2025 but the Chinese driver has made clear that he is evaluating different options. Zhou spoke during the F1 Monaco GP weekend and said “If you’re too late, or if you just have one option, I think you end up running out of time.”
Zhou Guanyu is a hot property in Formula One because of what the Chinese market can bring to Formula One. During the Shanghai GP weekend, 1996 F1 Drivers’ World Champion Damon Hill said: “I think he [Zhou Guanyu] needs to sign a contract now. It has become very apparent how valuable he is to Formula 1.” However, this hasn’t proven to be the case and there are still question marks as to whether Zhou Guanyu will be on an F1 grid in 2025.
Zhou Guanyu was asked in Monaco about the Chinese market. He was asked how important it is to potential teams in terms of what the Chinese racer can bring to the Chinese market? Due to the fact that packed out grandstands in Shanghai were predominantly because their hometown hero was on the grid.
“I think from my side, it’s great to see that perception from the home race, and I think for all the teams here, they all experienced and saw what happened in the Grand Prix.” explained Zhou. “I think that’s only going to help me. And regardless, you know, from my side, I really wanted to go back next year and the year after. I’m sure I can perform better than what I did this year.
“It’s the first experience, so I’m trying to give everything to having many more years in this paddock. And then on the other side, I think for me, having the home supporting, it’s something very beneficial as well. You know, we need to see what other teams think. You know, every team has a different kind of idea of what they want to have. Also, some teams have one driver already confirmed, some teams have two seats available, so it really depends on what they need. I’m sure having that, it’s not going to make me any worse. It’s only going to be helping my kind of options for the teams.”
Zhou Guanyu also admitted that he is also looking outside of Sauber – soon to be branded as Audi in 2025 onwards. Nico Hulkenberg has been confirmed for a seat with the German team already which means just one remains. It seems less likely that Zhou will retain his seat with the team but what is also clear is that the Chinese racer is not willing to just wait around and leave his options narrow.
“We are monitoring all different options, and of course here [at Sauber] remains still one of the options, but also I’m looking at what’s the best for my future and it’s very important already to start quite early, because it’s the driver market as well. Zhou confirmed. “So, yeah, I’ll leave this to Graham obviously…but it is clear that we already start talking to several different teams to understand who has the best interest and who has the most – the future – or the things that I wanted to have for the next few years.
So, yeah, things are not decided right now, but we’re just, waiting to see what is exactly the best on paper.”
Photo Credits: Sauber F1 Team
The topic of a 2025 seat was brought up again later on at the press conference and Zhou stated: “It’s clear I don’t want to be the guy who’s waiting for the final confirmation on the seat, because the last few years is a different situation. This year, I want to be the guy who tries to make this decision, tries to make things done quicker than the others. Obviously, looking at how this year is, everyone is talking to different options, but, I’m just still monitoring to see what’s the best, but if you wait too long, I think it will be too late, that’s for sure.”
Zhou’s teammate Valtteri Bottas – also unconfirmed for 2025 to be with an F1 team – made headlines after a public visit to Williams’ motor home. This set the tongues wagging and speculation wild that the Finnish driver could be returning to one of his former teams. Zhou was asked as to whether he could do anything similar to boost his chances.
Zhou first quipped on the comment “Valtteri is going for a coffee, no?” before continuing “Yeah, I drink coffee, so I might take some coffee in all the teams. But, yeah, in general I think it’s different, because, I don’t know, with his side of things, but for me I think it’s clear that I don’t kind of need to involve, especially at the track side, with different teams.
“For me, at the track side remaining, doing my job here, and then the rest is up to my manager, and we’re talking, you know, during the weekend. Also, we’re talking after the weekend, between the races, to see where, for me, is the best, and where I want to be able to go for my future. So, yeah, things are working on it, working in progress, but I wouldn’t give you a final confirmation right now, it’s a bit too early still.”
Zhou Guanyu does not sound like a man who is uncertain as to whether he will be on the F1 grid next season – and that can only be good for F1. The Chinese racer turned 25 years old this past week and maybe his belated birthday present will be a new F1 contract. However, one can assume that there won’t be any news for a while. Instead, Zhou can use the upcoming Canadian GP weekend to put himself the shop window and show teams his potential. His commercial prospect is clear for all to see – now he just needs some impressive performances behind the wheel and his F1 future could then be set.
