What Zhou Guanyu’s camp are privately saying about Sauber after Formula 1 exit

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It was officially confirmed on Wednesday that current Sauber driver Zhou Guanyu and Valtteri Bottas will be leaving the team come the end of the 2024 season.

The Swiss outfit are preparing for their final season under the Sauber name in 2025, before Audi join the sport as a factory entry in 2026. The team, based out of Hinwii, will be running a new look driver line-up for next season.

Sauber confirmed Nico Hulkenberg on a multi-year deal back in March, with the team luring him away from Haas to become a works Audi driver come 2026. Who the German’s teammate was going to be was a mystery for months, as several drivers were mentioned in the running for the seat.

Current drivers Bottas and Zhou were unable to convince Audi that they should be retained and will ultimately depart when their contracts expire at the end of the season. Formula 2 championship leader Gabriel Bortoleto will join Sauber next year on a multi-year deal after they bought him out of his contract as a McLaren academy driver.

Bottas and Zhou both joined Sauber in 2022 when they were known as Alfa Romeo – Bottas coming in after spending five years at Mercedes, while Zhou arrived as a rookie after finishing third in F2 the year prior.

Zhou Guanyu’s management are ‘so disappointed’ he did not ‘get to shine’ in Formula 1

The duo have had a challenging three years with the team, particularly Zhou. The Chinese driver has scored just 12 points in his time in F1 – six in 2022 and six in 2023 and he and Bottas have failed to score a point this season after 21 Grand Prix.

George Russell was the first F1 driver to message Zhou after his departure was confirmed, with many now speculating where the 25-year-old will move to next in his career.

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

While his results have lacked, speaking on The Fast and the Curious Podcast, Jennie Gow revealed that Zhou’s management have been left ‘so disappointed’ that their driver could not show his true potential, as the team have not been able to give him a competitive car over the last three years.

“I feel like he never really got into it. and it was just bad timing this year I think, and last year at Sauber,” she said.

“They haven’t had a car which is competitive, and you speak to the guys who represent Zhou, and they’re so disappointed that he never got to shine.

“I think it’s just one of those things. You get a Colapinto, gets put in the car and shines, and Zhou didn’t ever really get to shine.”

Zhou Guanyu is looking at staying in Formula 1 as a reserve driver

With 65 Grand Prix appearances to his name – soon to be 68 come the end of the 2024 season – Zhou’s future in F1 likely points towards a role outside of a full-time seat. The Chinese driver has registered a best finish of eighth at the 2022 Canadian Grand Prix.

In his statement on social media, Zhou alluded that he was exploring other options in the F1 paddock to keep himself in the sport in some capacity.

Zhou could end up joining Alpine following the news that they will be ditching their engines to become a customer Mercedes team come 2026, and the 25-year-old’s financial backing could help him secure the seat.

Liberty Media could help Zhou to stay in F1 given his popularity in China, with the sport’s owners worried about whether they can sustain relevancy in the nation without a home hero.