Sauber is the only team yet to score a point after 16 races in the 2024 season. The team has been facing multiple problems throughout the year.
In the opening rounds, problems with their equipment meant they had very, very slow stops, taking them out of any potential points scoring opportunities when the car was at its most competitive. In Bahrain, the Chinese star finished P11.
Since then, they have been outdeveloped, particularly by Alpine.
Zhou Guanyu admitted that finding a fix for their car’s persistent problems has been an ongoing struggle as the car fundamentally has flaws in it.
The 25-year-old acknowledged that cracking the top ten seems like an unrealistic goal, and they are working on finding the problem with their current package.
“Ten races to go but still it’s definitely one of the toughest season in terms of […] obviously we’re lacking performance, and on my side it’s just really extremely difficult trying to adapt, together with the limitation we’re having. So things kind of a little bit difficult with the several issues.
“We had some good moments at the beginning of the year but then obviously now we’re going a bit backwards, and that’s the fact.
“So it’s all about finding the issue and trying to solve for the future, but I don’t think in terms of frustrations probably come in the short term that nothing I don’t think will be changed one day to the other.
“So that takes a bit of time and then we’re hoping for fighting for a top ten.
“And at the moment the reality is that we are not close enough to be making any of these kind of results yet.
“And hopefully sooner or later things can change around. But yeah we’re just working on what we have at the moment.”
Being one of four drivers with no points after 16 races can be frustrating, and Zhou Guanyu talked through his emotions throughout the season where frustration became acceptance.
The driver from Shanghai also emphasized that even as they battle to secure a top-ten finish, the focus remains on making the most of their current situation.
“The beginning is frustration for sure when we had a very high chances we obviously lost a lot of the races due to the slow stops.
“But then now it’s kind of you accepting a little bit where you are standing in terms of the ranking compared to the competitors but still in a way that as a driver even fighting for good position — at least at top ten for points — gives you higher hopes.”
Despite the Constructors’ Championship standings and ongoing struggles, the team’s commitment to pushing forward and striving for better results remains unwavering, according to the Sauber driver.
“But at the moment we’re just trying to drive what we have and give it all we can.
“But at the moment I don’t think the attitude of the team is low. We’re still highly motivated because we want to be here, we want to make improvements, and that’s the key.”
