Zhou openly applies for this team: 'But that is absolutely not an option'
F1 News
- Ludo van Denderen
For Guanyu Zhou, his tenure at Sauber (Stake F1) is likely to come to an end after the current season. Audi - who now almost completely own Sauber - have a lot of drivers on the high as Nico Hulkenberg's potential teammate, but the Chinese is not among them. Zhou is mentioned at Alpine though, possibly because of the huge sponsorship amount ($30-35 million) he would bring with him to a new employer.
When asked, Zhou admits Alpine is an interesting option for '25: "I think all the seats are still available. It's always an option. Like I already mentioned in the past with Alpine, I always had a very good connection in the past because that's where it really helped me to have the chance, maybe before Formula One. Really grateful to join Alfa Romeo at the time and Sauber to have the chance. So now I'm open to, let's say, all the teams. We're talking, in discussion about my future. Nothing's been confirmed. But I feel like there should be a spot for me in the future on this grid, but I just don't know where," Zhou told the likes of GPblog.
Zhou does not want to be a reserve driver
The Chinese is really looking for a racing contract. He does not want to work somewhere as a test and reserve driver. "I don't want to be the reserve. I don't want to take a year off. I don't think at this age of my career, I don't really want to take a year off because Formula One, when you take a year off, it's difficult to come back just because you're not racing at such a high level. And every year the cars are changing and you need to adapt and you need to understand something different. So my option is to try to get a seat for next year. Reserve is definitely not an option."
Still, there is a chance that an opportunity in Formula 1 for '25 may not present itself for Zhou. "If you have to, then we have to see. We have to consider. But at the moment, I'm not trying to think that way," Zhou concluded.