Jolyon Palmer admits Zhou Guanyu did one thing this season he really didn’t agree with

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It has been a difficult year for Zhou Guanyu at Sauber having yet to score any points midway through the 2024 Formula 1 season.

It is not entirely the fault of the Chinese driver as teammate Valtteri Bottas has also endured a difficult year in what has been a disappointing 2024 challenger from Sauber, but it comes at a time when Zhou Gunayu faces uncertainty surrounding his future in F1.

There is limited spaces left on the grid next year and with Nico Hulkenberg set to replace one of the drivers at Sauber from 2025 as part of a deal for him to race with Audi from 2026, it means Zhou is left with either his current team or potentially a space elsewhere.

Earlier in the season, Zhou contested what might have been his first and last Chinese Grand Prix for a while after having to wait two years for the opportunity. But Jolyon Palmer felt some of the celebrations were over the top when discussing them on the F1 YouTube.

Jolyon Palmer felt Zhou Guanyu Chinese GP celebrations were over the top

It was the first opportunity Zhou had to contest his home race after it was cancelled due to COVID restrictions in China on two occasions.

The country only relaxed its COVID policy on mass events taking place midway through last year after several protests, meaning the earliest opportunity for the race to go ahead was 2024.

This led to a surge in the popularity of the Grand Prix at Shanghai and record attendance, with Zhou given an honorary pit board to celebrate his finishing the race.

Will Buxton said he never heard ‘anything like’ it from the stands, however, Palmer thought it was a bit much for a driver who only managed to finish 14th overall in the race and without any points.

“He finished 14th out get of 17 finishers and he celebrated like it was a win. Not for me. I understand the emotion of racing at home, he’s been doing it for a few seasons without being in front of the home crowd. But celebrating a 14th finish doesn’t do anything for me,” said Palmer.

“I guess British driving history warrants nothing if you finish 14th at a home race when you’ve got Lewis Hamilton who won it for a ninth time. If I pulled up at the British GP and celebrated my 14th people would be laughing at me.”

Zhou Guanyu trying to save F1 seat

Zhou is currently on a run of 19 races without scoring a point in F1 and with the driver market moving at a fast pace, it appears he might be out of options to stay on the grid.

A report claimed that Zhou can offer F1 teams £27 million for a 2025 seat, although it appears not many teams are willing to entertain the idea due to his form so far.

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

He was tipped to replace Esteban Ocon at Alpine when team advisor Flavio Briatore said Zhou would help pay for their Mercedes engine deal with his extra sponsorship money.

But Jack Doohan has now emerged as the most likely candidate, owing to the fact that Alpine has invested millions in a testing programme for the Australian.