12-point driver could keep his spot in F1 because Liberty want him on the grid

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Liberty Media have already lobbied for Sergio Perez to stay at Red Bull. And now F1’s commercial rights could come to the aid of another driver.

Liberty urged Red Bull to keep Perez because they feared a major drop in revenue at the Mexico City Grand Prix if he wasn’t competing. Executive director Helmut Marko has denied that external influences held sway.

The American company have owned the Formula 1 group since the beginning of 2017. The sport has seen impressive growth under their stewardship, perhaps most notably through Netflix’s Drive to Survive series.

The calendar has now expanded to a record 24 events. Drivers like Sergio Perez have complained about the schedule, which limits their time with their families, but it’s naturally more lucrative for F1.

From May until September, the races take place almost exclusively in Europe. But either side of that sequence, there are stops in four other continents.

Europe arguably remains overrepresented on the grid, accounting for 12 of the 20 drivers. The sport’s only American, Logan Sargeant, is set to race in a different series after Williams signed Carlos Sainz.

Tiff Needell says Liberty Media could save Zhou Guanyu

Speaking on the Lovecars On the Grid YouTube channel, racing driver and TV presenter Tiff Needell suggested that Liberty could also throw their weight behind Zhou Guanyu. Zhou is the first full-time Chinese driver in F1 history.

The 25-year-old is out of contract at the end of the year and while Sauber have yet to make a final decision on his future, there’s only one seat available after the signing of Nico Hulkenberg. They may instinctively favour the more experienced Valtteri Bottas, who’s had the edge this season.

But Needell feels the ‘money-orientated’ nature of F1 could save him. Zhou offers £27m in sponsorship incentives from his homeland.

The sport returned to China in April for the first time since 2019 after a Covid-enforced absence. The Shanghai International Circuit bosses will soon be renegotiating their contract, with their current deal due to expire in 2025.

“You just realise how big and money-orientated F1 is, how much Liberty push teams,” Needell said. “Are sales down for the Mexican Grand Prix at the end of the year? This is why I fear that Zhou will be back in some team, because Liberty will want this Chinese driver in.”

Why Alpine’s Mercedes engine deal could hand Zhou a seat

It’s unclear whether Sauber/Audi, or any other teams for that matter, will bow to pressure from Liberty. They don’t necessarily need the money that Zhou provides.

After Williams recruited Sainz, the only realistic alternative for the 12-point driver is Alpine. He knows some team members of the team well after his stint in the Renault driver academy.

Oliver Oakes’ squad are giving up their works team status to sign an engine deal with Mercedes. And signing Zhou could help Alpine finance that contract.

It would also further boost their presence in the Far East. Will Buxton says the Shanghai fans were dizzyingly loud when Zhou was interviewed, so he’s clearly very popular.