George Russell sends Zhou Guanyu a four-word message after his Sauber exit is confirmed

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Mercedes star George Russell was the first Formula 1 driver to message Zhou Guanyu after Sauber confirmed that the Chinese racer plus Valtteri Bottas will leave the team.

The Hinwil, Switzerland crew will run an entirely new driver line-up in 2025 in their last year as Sauber. Audi increased its ownership of Sauber to 100% this March to debut in Formula 1 with a factory entry in 2026, before swiftly tempting Nico Hulkenberg to quit Haas this April.

Hulkenberg signed a multi-year works Audi contract and will return to Sauber in 2025 having previously raced for them in 2013. But who will partner the German had remained a mystery as Bottas and Zhou unsuccessfully tried to convince Audi they deserved to remain at Sauber.

George Russell wishes Zhou Guanyu ‘the best’ after Sauber confirm his departure

Sauber have now announced that Bottas and Zhou will leave the Formula 1 team when their respective contracts expire at the end of the 2024 season. Audi has also now bought Gabriel Bortoleto out of his contract as a McLaren academy driver to partner Hulkenberg at Sauber.

Bortoleto is currently fighting to win the Formula 2 Championship as a rookie on the back of the 20-year-old winning the Formula 3 title in his debut season last year. The Brazilian heads Red Bull prospect Isack Hadjar in the F2 standings by a mere 4.5 points with two rounds left.

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

Zhou also made the move up from F2 to Formula 1 with Sauber whilst the team operated as Alfa Romeo in 2022, as Bottas even arrived from Mercedes. But neither driver has proven to Audi they merited new deals with Sauber the only team still without a single point this year.

Mercedes pilot Russell, who is also the current director of the GPDA, was the first Formula 1 driver to message Zhou on Instagram after Sauber confirmed the 25-year-old’s departure. In a reply to Formula 1’s first full-time Chinese driver’s post, Russell noted: “All the best mate.”

Zhou Guanyu is ‘discussing’ options to stay in Formula 1 in 2025

Zhou had initially taken to Instagram to thank those who offered him support over a three-year stint at Sauber. He also confirmed the Shanghai native is in talks with other Formula 1 teams about Zhou potentially remaining in the paddock next year, likely as a reserve driver.

“I would like to thank all of the fans for their continued support,” Zhou said. “You have been fantastic and you continue to inspire me… Sadly, the last two seasons have been challenging for all but I want to look forward.

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“I am positive about the future, and I am now totally focused on making sure that I can truly show what I am capable of. I’m now discussing a number of options to stay in the Formula 1 paddock. [I] will update you all soon.”

Zhou joined Sauber to make his Formula 1 debut at the 2022 Bahrain Grand Prix after taking third place in the 2021 Formula 2 drivers’ standings. He also won the F3 Asian Championship in 2021 while with the Renault Driver Academy. But his career in F1 hinges on a reserve role.

Through the Chinese star’s 65 Grand Prix starts with Sauber so far, Zhou has only scored 12 points in his Formula 1 career. He took six points as a rookie in 2022 and a further six in 2023. Yet Zhou’s best finish in what is now his last year at Sauber has been P11 in Bahrain.