Zhou, Focused On F1 Return, Linked With Red Bull

Large 2024 British Grand Prix Thursday
Zhou Guanyu, Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber, poses for a picture with fans; 2024 British Grand Prix, Formula One World Championship (image courtesy Sauber)
Large 2024 British Grand Prix Thursday
Zhou Guanyu, Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber, poses for a picture with fans; 2024 British Grand Prix, Formula One World Championship (image courtesy Sauber)

Guanyu Zhou is determined that losing his race seat at Sauber does not mean the end of his Formula 1 career.

Audi-owned Sauber decided not to renew the deals with both Zhou and Valtteri Bottas at the end of a difficult season for the Swiss team in 2024.

Since losing his seat, Zhou – the first Chinese driver on the grid – has been exploring opportunities to remain in the F1 paddock as a reserve driver.

He was linked with Ferrari, but the Maranello based team denied there were plans to sign Zhou. There was even talk that Zhou could end up at Red Bull, with his powerful Chinese sponsors helping to fund a TPC (Testing of Previous Cars) program.

“Up to now,” explained journalist Michael Schmidt at Auto Motor und Sport, “the Red Bull teams have held back on testing old Formula 1 cars because Honda demands a lot of money for the provision of engines and personnel.”

Zhou, 25, would also serve as an experienced reserve driver for Red Bull’s two F1 teams, given that the brand’s in-house option, Arvid Lindblad, is only 17 and so inexperienced.

“Zhou would have experience, but he is not the brightest star in the Formula 1 world,” Schmidt said. “(Franco) Colapinto would have been the best choice, but Williams was asking too much for a full release of the man from Buenos Aires.”

Zhou told Formula Rapida: “I have decided not to race in another series this year because there are so many doors in F1 that could be open, not only in 2025 but also in 2026.

“I want to make sure that if there is an opportunity, I can be there. If there is an opportunity, I definitely want to be back on the grid,” he added.

Meanwhile, former Haas racer Kevin Magnussen will make his debut with BMW at the Daytona 24 hours this weekend. But according to Schmidt, he will also play a role in Haas’ new Toyota-funded TPC program as a reference for younger drivers in 2025.

Comments

Subscribe
Notify of
guest
0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

More in News

250530 Sfhp F1 R09 Spagna Ca R0915023 E47f5afb 8155 4d3f 9b20 0daac660dda8

Lewis Hamilton Asks Ferrari To Focus On 2026 Car

Lewis Hamilton thinks it may be time for Ferrari to ...
Arvid Lindblad

FIA Could Green-Light Arvid Lindblad For F1 Next Week

Arvid Lindblad could be on the Formula 1 grid soon. ...
2025 Spanish Grand Prix, Sunday - Toto Wolff (image courtesy Mercedes)

Angry Taxi Drivers Hit Back At Mercedes’ Toto Wolff

Italian taxi drivers have amusingly returned fire at Mercedes team ...
Was Crashgate A Real Thing? - Piquet Never Intended To 'Harm' Massa

Briatore ‘Never Spoke’ With Piquet About Crashgate

Flavio Briatore has reiterated his innocence some decade and a ...
F1 Grand Prix Of Abu Dhabi Practice

Verstappen Deserved FIA’s Spanish GP Slap – Marko

Dr Helmut Marko says Max Verstappen deserved to be penalised ...

Trending on F1 Chronicle