Zhou Guanyu will be heavily involved in this year’s transfer market, but the Chinese driver is unphased by F1 news headlines.
The 24-year-old enters his third year in Formula 1, and one which could prove pivotal for his career. With several youngsters in Formula 2 expected to make breakthroughs, teams will have several options available to them.
To ensure he keeps his place in the team, Zhou must compete at a similar level to Valtteri Bottas. This is no easy feat, but the former Alpine junior cannot afford to stay in his teammate’s shadow.
After all, this season’s “silly season” is set to be volatile and unpredictable.
Still, rumours and F1 news headlines will inevitably go through the motions. Aware of this reality, Zhou is unconcerned by reports about his future:
“I don’t give a s*** about it, to be honest! It’s like all the other crazy stuff when I first signed my contract,” he told Autosport.
“I was like, ‘I will just let it flow. I will make sure I do the talking on track – making sure people respect why I’m here’.
“Everything’s been good since then.”
Zhou is referring to the hostility he received in late 2021, when his contract with Alfa Romeo was first announced.
At the time, there was outrage that Zhou earned an F1 contract before Oscar Piastri. Although the Australian wasn’t in any way affiliated with Sauber, the Chinese driver still received plenty of criticism.
This narrative changed almost entirely after his debut – when Zhou earned points in Bahrain.
His reputation steadily improved as his rookie year continued, holding his own against Valtteri Bottas in the second half of the season.
However, his 2023 campaign wasn’t as well received. This was partly because of Sauber’s below-par performance, which meant points results were difficult to come by.
Although he still earned a contract extension last summer, his future isn’t guaranteed beyond this year. Nico Hulkenberg is confirmed to have spoken with Sauber last summer.
It seems reasonable this interest might persist later in the year.
More broadly, Audi’s takeover in 2026 creates questions about the direction of their driver line-up. This puts both Zhou and Bottas under pressure to improve their chances both within and beyond the team.
