Zhou Guanyu admits what he heard about Sergio Perez and F1 rival was ‘crazy’ in 2023

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Sauber star Zhou Guanyu admits he found rumours of Aston Martin driver Fernando Alonso replacing Red Bull’s Sergio Perez following the Mexico City Grand Prix ‘crazy’.

The rumour mill was in full flow after the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez round at the end of October. Perez produced another disappointing weekend at his home event. The Red Bull driver failed to finish even the first lap after causing a collision at Turn 1 with Charles Leclerc.

Perez got a strong start from P5 on the grid and fully maximised the slipstream effect on the long straight. He tucked the RB19 under the rear wing of Leclerc’s pole-sitting Ferrari before taking up the outside line. But Perez simply turned across the Monegasque at the first bend.

What happened to Red Bull’s Sergio Perez at the 2023 F1 Mexico City GP?

Ferrari showed great pace over a single lap to lock out the front row for the Mexico City GP. But Max Verstappen split Leclerc and Carlos Sainz on the run to T1 before claiming the lead by the time they hit the brakes. Perez also saw his chance to claim the lead from fifth place.

Leclerc was powerless to defend Verstappen or Perez from pole position as the Red Bull pair shot off the grid. Yet Perez failed to capitalise on his early progress as he cut across Leclerc into T1. The 33-year-old took Turn 1 as if he expected Leclerc to simply vanish beside him.

Retiring on Lap 1 of the Mexico City GP also capped a dismal run of results for Perez. He had also retired from September’s Japanese GP due to damage sustained by crashing into Kevin Magnussen’s Haas. The Mexican also barged into Alex Albon’s Williams at the Singapore GP.

Zhou Guanyu found rumours of Fernando Alonso replacing Sergio Perez ‘crazy’

Perez’s Mexico City GP horrors, after Daniel Ricciardo also outqualified him with AlphaTauri, sparked rumours that Alonso could quit Aston Martin to take over the drive at Red Bull. But Alonso reacted by promising ‘consequences’ as the rumour called his loyalty into question.

Aston Martin hired Alonso on a two-year contract to replace Sebastian Vettel from the 2023 Formula 1 season. The move yielded what Alonso has described as a ‘dream’ season with P4 in the drivers’ championship. The 42-year-old also secured eight podiums throughout 2023.

Alonso impressing to such a degree in his first season for Aston Martin sparked the rumours of him replacing Perez at Red Bull after the Mexico City GP. But Sauber star Zhou did not buy into the claims and found it ‘crazy’ to see the two Formula 1 rivals’ futures linked in Mexico.

“People were saying Sergio would retire in the Mexico GP but nothing goes on,” Zhou told Autosport. “It is the rumours of Fernando swapping his seat [to join Red Bull]. That’s crazy.

“I actually understand more about the media, especially when you have other drivers or from the medias of that country making rumours, makes you worry. But from the inside out, you know what’s going on. You are quite easy understanding about them.”