Audi would be sending ‘wrong message’ by handing 2025 F1 seat to 58-race driver

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Audi will be in no rush to confirm their second driver alongside Nico Hulkenberg for next year when they compete under the Sauber name for the final time.

The driver’s market has been non-stop for months ever since Lewis Hamilton decided to switch to Ferrari for next year and set off a domino effect with Carlos Sainz suddenly discovering he’s set to become a free agent.

Sainz was a key target for Audi once it was confirmed he was on the market especially as the three-time race winner’s father has a long association with the German manufacturer.

However, Sainz will be racing for Williams next year and Audi have to go back to the drawing board once again.

Speaking on the F1 Insider YouTube channel, journalist Ralf Bach was speaking about the options available to Audi.

With 16 drivers already committed to their teams for 2025 – even if the likes of Sergio Perez are under immense pressure – it leaves Audi with very few options.

Given the recent changes in the upper management within the team, it’s unlikely that they’ll be rushing to decide who will join Nico Hulkenberg next year.

Both of Sauber’s current drivers are still available and are looking like more and more realistic options the longer the wait goes on.

However, Bach believes that if Sauber continue with Zhou Guanyu it sends the wrong message about the team’s aspirations.

After 58 Grand Prix, Zhou has been a decent but unspectacular driver and after three seasons he’s not done enough to urge another team on the grid to secure his signature.

With teammate Valtteri Bottas also still on the market, while Zhou’s financial backing would aid Sauber, it doesn’t point towards the team becoming a leading manufacturer in Formula 1.

READ MORE: Sauber driver Zhou Guanyu’s life outside F1 from height to net worth

Sauber re-signing Zhou Guanyu would send the ‘wrong message’ in 2025

Talking about the driver’s market, Bach said: “There aren’t many drivers on the market anymore and of course, you can also keep the money from a lot of Chinese sponsors.

“But, it would be the wrong message from the Audi team to say we’re betting on someone who’s really only going to do it this year [for 2025].”

It’s been a very tough season for Zhou so far this season and the Chinese driver is one of three drivers without a point this season.

The others are Bottas and Logan Sargeant and so far, all three drivers are waiting to sign a contract for 2025.

Bottas has the best chance of staying at Sauber but Zhou may not have ruled out staying in Formula 1.

READ MORE: Everything you need to know about Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber from team principal to Audi future

Zhou Guanyu has ties to Alpine with 2025 still available

Audi have a completely different profile to Sauber and should have vast resources to build up their Formula 1 team.

While Zhou’s backing wouldn’t go amiss, it won’t be one of the main attributes new head of F1 Mattia Binotto and future team principal Jonathan Wheatley take into account when hiring Hulkenberg’s next teammate.

However, Zhou may be in the conversation for the last remaining seat on the grid for next year at Alpine with Kimi Antonelli set to join Mercedes and the final RB seat likely to be filled by someone already within the Red Bull group.

The 25-year-old came through Alpine’s academy and drove in their colours all the way up to Formula 2.

Zhou has admitted having a good relationship with Alpine still and that might help convince Flavio Briatore and new boss Oliver Oakes to take a chance on him.

David Croft thinks Zhou’s backers would invest in Alpine if given the chance and that funding may be welcomed with a new engine deal potentially on the cards.