Zhou Guanyu gives two reasons why he’s a better choice than Liam Lawson for Sauber’s second seat

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Sauber have to decide sooner rather than later who is going to partner Nico Hulkenberg next season.

The 2025 campaign will be the final season that Sauber will be on the Formula 1 grid before they become the Audi works team.

The new head of F1 at Audi Mattia Binotto is likely to be the man in charge of finalising their driver line-up with Jonathan Wheatley set to go on gardening leave next year before becoming team principal as his exit from Red Bull looms.

One driver who is desperate to stay on the grid next season is Zhou Guanyu.

Zhou is one of the two incumbent drivers at Sauber – alongside Valtteri Bottas – who have had to struggle through this season.

READ MORE: Everything you need to know about Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber from team principal to Audi future

The Swiss outfit have yet to score a point and it’s hard to see that changing after the summer break unless they unearth an incredible update package soon.

Zhou has spoken to RacingNews365 about his Formula 1 future and has been trying to make a case for himself to earn a fourth season on the grid.

Several rookies are keeping a close eye on Sauber’s second seat in the hope that they can break onto the grid.

Red Bull reserve driver Liam Lawson has been linked with Audi, but Zhou has shared why he feels he’s a better choice than the young Kiwi or any other inexperienced driver who wants to be in the Formula 1 paddock in 2025.

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

Zhou Guanyu explains why he thinks Sauber should choose him over Liam Lawson in 2025

Talking about whether this season has made it difficult for Zhou to showcase his talents, the Chinese driver said: “Of course, this season with the result [Stake has had], it makes things extra hard for us, but it’s still not over.

“And I do feel there’s still a possibility and chances to go ahead [and stay in F1].

“From my side, I think I am winning with my experience, with my knowledge… to show what I can do, and I feel like this season, I couldn’t really show what I really could do.

“There are a few races where we were there, but in the end, some issues we had, and then we didn’t deliver the results unfortunately.”

READ MORE: Who is Red Bull reserve driver Liam Lawson? Everything you need to know

Valtteri Bottas the driver Zhou Guanyu needs to beat to save his Sauber seat

While Zhou believes his experience and knowledge gives him an advantage over rookies who are not currently on the grid when it comes to the second Sauber seat, that’s unlikely to be the driver he needs to worry about.

Zhou’s teammate Bottas has more experience and knowledge than he does which if that’s the only criteria Binotto is looking at, puts the 25-year-old in an awkward position.

Bottas is said to be in pole position to retain his seat for 2025, however, there are unlikely to be any guarantees that he’ll be on the grid for the next set of regulations.

Audi will have ambitions to go into Formula 1 with the strongest team possible which is why they’ve already poached Wheatley from Red Bull.

The Finnish driver brings a wealth of experience and race-winning pedigree although it’s hard to see him matching his results from his time at Mercedes with the new team.

Zhou has been in talks with other F1 teams but his chances of sticking around beyond the end of 2024 look limited.

While there may be benefits to Sauber keeping him over Lawson, the 22-year-old will hope that if his F1 career doesn’t start next year within the Red Bull group that he’s not left on the sidelines for too much longer.