Zhou Guanyu says he may “settle for” shedding out on the ultimate F1 2025 seat at Sauber to present teammate Valtteri Bottas.
The Chinese language driver seems to be in a direct head-to-head with Bottas for the sole-remaining drive at Sauber, and the ultimate seat on the 2025 grid, to keep away from being axed from F1 altogether.
Talking completely to Crash.internet on the Italian Grand Prix at Monza, Zhou acknowledged the truth that he is probably not on the grid subsequent season.
Requested if he has accepted he is probably not in F1 subsequent yr, Zhou replied: “In fact. I feel there’s two choices. The fact is we’d keep within the seat in Sauber or I gained’t be having a seat subsequent yr.
“I’m fully open on this matter. I don’t really feel like if I don’t have a seat I might be very upset about it. Combating for a seat with Valtteri, both of us have it, I’m more than pleased if I lose the seat towards him.
“In fact there are some drivers you perhaps doubt why they’re having the seat for subsequent yr. But when it’s only one seat as much as me and him, I need to struggle for it but when he has it, I gained’t really feel very annoyed.”
When pressed to make clear that he would settle for shedding out to Bottas, Zhou added: “Yeah I may settle for the very fact. Both method, we have to see what occurs after that.”
Zhou harassed he plans to remain in F1 “with or with out” a full-time seat and doesn’t need to race in one other championship.
“I gained’t go to every other championship but,” he stated. “I need to have one other alternative sooner or later and hopefully have one other shot at it [F1].
“There’s folks already contacting me desirous to do different collection.
“In the mean time I don’t need to be in different collection but, as a result of I really feel like I’m nonetheless in a interval that if I can keep in F1, or making a comeback if I don’t have a seat, there’ll nonetheless be probabilities to point out what I’ve received.
“I’ll attempt to give it my all to remain in F1 and after that there might be loads of possibilities of seats outdoors of F1. But it surely’s not a short-term, one yr or two that I take into consideration attempting to get that.”
Zhou stated a reserve driver function would enchantment to him if he misses out on a full-time drive.
“In the event you don’t have a seat then the one method is to be a reserve driver and look ahead to alternatives,” he stated. “In the mean time I’m not speaking to every other staff a couple of reserve function as a result of I feel there might be loads of probabilities.
“It actually relies upon what they’ve and what seats different groups have accessible perhaps for the longer term. However now I’m simply purely talking in regards to the [Sauber race] seat for subsequent yr. In fact that’s the precedence.”
Mattia Binotto’s arrival ‘opens greater doorways’
Mattia Binotto
Ex-Ferrari boss Mattia Binotto is making his first look within the F1 paddock this weekend since taking up the duty of spearheading the Sauber operation forward of Audi’s takeover in 2026.
Zhou believes Binotto’s arrival is a lift to his possibilities of retaining his drive, however Bottas has additionally expressed comparable emotions.
Binotto briefly interrupted the interview to shake arms with Zhou, who confirmed early discussions have already been held with the previous Ferrari staff principal.
“We’ve began speaking in regards to the future already,” he stated. “I spoke to him final week when he began working within the manufacturing facility. This week my administration staff, along with myself, will certainly begin speaking about my future.
“Understanding what’s the want from his facet, from Audi’s facet and what we each have. We’ll see. It’s going to be a busy couple of weeks forward to know precisely the place the longer term is.
“With Mattia arriving it opens greater doorways for me and for Valtteri as properly. I feel me and him are undoubtedly the frontrunners for the remaining seat at Sauber and the remainder I’ll depart it to time.
“It’s good to have any person totally different. You don’t precisely know but what they want however they simply offer you hopes and pleasure that perhaps you may have a greater likelihood.”
Zhou added: “I feel I did every little thing I may. If it’s sufficient or not, I’ll depart it to Mattia and the administration staff in Audi.
“From my facet, I attempted to present it my all however this yr I wasn’t capable of present precisely what I can do, in comparison with final yr or the earlier yr, which is somewhat bit irritating.”