Valtteri Bottas issues 15-word reaction as Alfa Romeo snub 20-year-old sensation

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Valtteri Bottas has reacted on X, previously called Twitter, after Alfa Romeo gave Zhou Guanyu a new contract and snubbed Theo Pourchaire for the 2024 Formula 1 season.

The Hinwil, Switzerland-based squad announced on Thursday that Zhou and Bottas will now be teammates for a third consecutive year. Zhou made his breakthrough in F1 alongside the Finn at Alfa Romeo in 2022. But doubts had arisen over his future with the team after 2023.

Bottas also left Mercedes ahead of the 2022 season for Alfa Romeo, who will return to using the Sauber name next year. The 34-year-old joined the team on a multi-year contract, which included 2024. Zhou, on the other hand, only signed one-year contracts for 2022 and 2023.

Alfa Romeo hands Zhou a new contract, snubbing Pourchaire for 2024

Alfa Romeo have now decided to pursue continuity again by retaining Bottas and Zhou with contracts for the 2024 F1 season. The team also announced that Pourchaire will continue in his role as the reserve driver. The 20-year-old took the role for 2023 alongside his F2 drive.

Pourchaire also served as Alfa Romeo’s test driver in 2022 but hoped to make the step up to F1 now. He has been a member of Sauber’s driver academy since February 2019. While the Frenchman became the youngest-ever F3 race winner back in July 2020 at just 16 years old.

Records have continued to tumble throughout Pourchaire’s junior career after becoming the youngest F2 polesitter and race winner in May 2021 around Monaco. He ended 2021 fifth in the Formula 2 standings, was the runner-up in 2022 and currently leads the 2023 standings.

Bottas reacts on X as Zhou secures his Formula 1 future with Sauber

Bottas took to X, formerly known as Twitter, on Thursday to react to the news of Zhou’s new contract with Alfa Romeo. The Finn is thrilled for China’s first, and only, full-time F1 driver to book another year on the grid. He fully believes the 24-year-old merited another 12 months.

“Great to have Zhou confirmed as my teammate for the next season!” Bottas claimed. “Well deserved, mate.”

Zhou also replied to Bottas’ post on X, simply noting ‘thanks mate’, ahead of this weekend’s Singapore Grand Prix. The Shanghai native only drove six laps around the Marina Bay Street Circuit during the 2022 race. He retired in the early stages after colliding with Nicholas Latifi.