Guenther Steiner labels sacked 12-point F1 driver who has ‘no ego’ an ‘animal’ on the track

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Guenther Steiner has heaped praise onto a Formula 1 driver who will find himself out of the sport come the end of the 2024 season.

Sauber will field an all-new driver pairing for 2025 with Nico Hulkenberg returning to the team from Haas. Previously racing for the Swiss outfit in 2013, the German signed a multi-year deal back in March that will see him become an Audi works driver when they join the sport in 2026.

Speculation was rife throughout the season as to who would partner Hulkenberg next season, with Sauber eventually announcing the signing of Formula 2 title contender Gabriel Bortoleto on a long-term deal. With their two drivers locked in, Audi have themselves an exciting line-up for their first season in F1.

The new pairing means that the team have decided to part ways with current drivers Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu. The duo will leave the team after three years in what has mostly been a disappointing period.

While they could get into the points on occasion in 2022 and 2023, this season has been a disaster for Sauber. Neither Bottas and Zhou have scored points after 21 Grand Prix in 2024 and that does not look likely to change in the final three races based off of current performance.

Zhou’s management is said to be ‘so disappointed’ that he could not shine in F1 due to the underperforming machinery he has to pilot, scoring just 12 points across his career so far. With the Chinese driver now out of the running for a 2025 seat, he is desperately looking to stay in the F1 paddock in some capacity.

Guenther Steiner labels Zhou Guanyu an ‘animal’ on the track

Former Haas boss Steiner gave Zhou some praise in his new book ‘Unfiltered: My Incredible Decade in Formula One’ as he called the 25-year-old an ‘animal’ when he gets out onto the track.

With Steiner’s F1 career starting in 2001 with Jaguar, the 59-year-old is sure to have seen some egos in and around the paddock. To him, it shows insecurity in the driver as they are not where they want to be.

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

But for the ex-Haas chief, Zhou does not ‘have an ego at all’ and is a ‘pretty unassuming character, yet he does he talking on the track.

Writing in his latest book, he said: “Perhaps a more interesting observation is the fact that some people break the mould by appearing not to have an ego at all, yet when you get them on to a racing track they become an animal.

“I think there are a lot of these people on the grid at the moment. Look at Zhou Guanyu.

“I don’t know the guy but he’s pretty unassuming and if you met him at a party and had to guess what he did for a living you probably wouldn’t say ‘Formula 1 driver.”

What is next for Zhou Guanyu after his Sauber departure?

With Sauber now off the table, the Chinese driver is now facing the difficulty of keeping his F1 career alive. Damon Hill believes Zhou will leave an incredible legacy in F1 after he finally got the chance to race his home Grand Prix in Shanghai this season after the event was cancelled repeatedly due to the COVID pandemic.

But the 25-year-old is determined to remain in the pinnacle of motorsport, as Zhou says he plans to stay in the F1 paddock beyond 2025.

One possible option could be a return to Alpine, having been a part of their Academy during his rise through the ranks in junior Formulae.

With Alpine recently confirming their switch to running Mercedes power units come 2026, Zhou’s substantial financial backing could bring the extra support the team needs in the future.