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Zhou shares the ‘great honour’ he will take from his time in F1 after Kick Sauber exit
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Zhou Guanyu has spoken of his pride at becoming the first Chinese driver to race in Formula 1, while expressing hope that he will be able to add another chapter to that groundbreaking journey going forward.
A race winner at F4, F3 and F2 level, Zhou initially climbed the ranks with Ferrari backing before switching to Renault’s academy, who gave him his F1 practice debut under their Alpine banner at the 2021 Austrian Grand Prix.
With no room in Alpine’s line-up for the 2022 season, the youngster landed a full-time seat at the Sauber-operated Alfa Romeo outfit, marking the start of a three-year partnership alongside experienced Grand Prix winner Valtteri Bottas.
After scoring points on three occasions in 2022 and 2023, including on his debut, rewards were harder to come by through 2024 as the rebranded Kick Sauber squad spent much of the campaign running at the back of the pack.
There were still a couple of memorable highlights for Zhou around those struggles, though, topped by his first home Grand Prix experience at the Shanghai International Circuit and a charging drive to the points in Qatar.
Zhou spent three seasons competing in F1, making history for his home nation of China in the process
“I think for me, I left enough legacy for just [being] the Chinese Formula 1 driver,” said Zhou, when asked at the 2024 finale how he would like to be remembered. “To be the first and only one… I don’t think anyone will be coming in the next 10 years, if I’m not coming back.
“I feel a great honour to be the first person, but also becoming a massive inspiration for the young kids growing up, which is a lot of pressure but also a nice honour to have.
“On the other side, worldwide I don’t want to just be remembered as the first Chinese driver. I want people to think that sports are probably not prioritised for us as a country, but I can still be there and be very good at it.”
Despite their best efforts to help Sauber emerge from those aforementioned struggles, both Zhou and Bottas have lost their seats for 2025, with former Haas racer Nico Hulkenberg and F2 champion Gabriel Bortoleto taking over.
Asked what he learned from the season gone by, Zhou continued: “Honestly, I think [it] probably came from the last few races, because at the beginning of the year things were working right, but then we had an issue in the [pit] stops.
Zhou insists he’s ‘not finished’ in F1 despite Sauber exit
“For such a long period after that, we were the slowest car on the grid. Then you are suffering, you are having less hope for the future, you’re having more struggles in general feeling comfortable or confident out there.
“Even with me announcing I was leaving the team, I still feel like it’s very easy to say it’s a season to forget. I wanted to show what I can do, I wanted to leave F1 in the best way I could imagine – not just for myself, for the paddock watching me.
END OF YEAR REPORT: Kick Sauber – A ‘draining’ season with the team in ‘survival mode’
“I want to come back. That’s what was always in my mind. I knew my full potential [being shown] wasn’t the case before the points. We got something we’ve deserved for a long time. This is a year that mentally is very intense, but you grow up.”
Pushed on his 2025 plans, Zhou added: “I think my next [step] will be staying in the paddock. I don’t know where I’m going, we’re still working on the future… There are a few different interests we have and then [it is] all about trying to be there.
“Everything is independent, everything is unknown with so many newcomers [rookie drivers] to the grid. I just want to be ready [so] when there’s a chance or opportunity, I’m ready to jump in.”
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