At the 2024 Chinese Grand Prix, a procession of cars is headed by Lando Norris.
Haas could emerge as a potential lifeline for Zhou Guanyu if the Chinese driver loses his Sauber seat at the end of the F1 2024 season.
Zhou, along with veteran team-mate Valtteri Bottas, is facing an uncertain future in F1 after Sauber announced the signing of Nico Hulkenberg from Haas last week.
Zhou Guanyu to join Haas for F1 2025 season?
Hulkenberg is set to make a comeback with the Swiss-based team before Audi’s eagerly awaited F1 entry in 2026. Additionally, Sauber has reportedly made a substantial offer to Carlos Sainz, who will be replaced by Lewis Hamilton at Ferrari in the upcoming season.
The emotional response exhibited by Zhou at the conclusion of the recent Chinese Grand Prix has sparked increased speculation regarding the possibility that his inaugural home race could potentially be his final one, especially considering the subsequent announcement of Hulkenberg’s arrival just days later.
Ferrari junior Oliver Bearman is considered the frontrunner to replace Hulkenberg, but Haas could potentially have two seats up for grabs if they choose to part ways with Kevin Magnussen, who has struggled to perform since his comeback to F1 in 2022.
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During the Sky F1 podcast, presenter Christian Hewgill mentioned the potential scenario where Zhou could join Haas in F1 2025, in case Magnussen is no longer part of the team.
He mentioned that Kevin Magnussen has made a few errors and has been outperformed by Nico Hulkenberg more often than he would prefer.
I’m curious if that could be a possible choice.
Do you think Haas might consider taking a risk by choosing Zhou instead of Magnussen as Ollie Bearman’s teammate? It’s worth considering the potential commercial benefits given Zhou’s significant Chinese fan base.
David Croft, the Sky F1 commentator, countered Hewgill’s statement by suggesting that while it’s plausible, Kevin Magnussen’s compatibility with the team, strong rapport with sponsors, and marketability as a driver, particularly for Haas’ title sponsor, make him a valuable asset.
“Could Zhou understand you better than Kevin Magnussen? It is possible, but I believe Magnussen is a reliable and trustworthy option in that regard.”
Kevin Magnussen has showcased moments of brilliance this season, particularly in Jeddah where he delivered an astonishing drive for the team. Therefore, it would be unfortunate if Magnussen were to lose his seat at the end of the year as he has been contributing to the team’s success.
Although the grandstands in Shanghai were filled, Croft contended that Zhou’s popularity in his home country shouldn’t be sufficient to guarantee him a spot on the F1 2025 grid. He acknowledged that if Zhou departs from Sauber, there doesn’t seem to be a clear destination for the 24-year-old.
He expressed his belief that a driver should not be retained solely based on their popularity, which ensures a fully packed grand prix. However, he noted that we have not reached the same level of spectacle as WWE.
However, I firmly believe that Zhou Guanyu should be given an opportunity to compete in Formula 1. In my opinion, he possesses far more talent as a driver than what Sauber typically allows him to display.
As I observed those captivating scenes filled with raw emotion, a lingering thought crossed my mind: “I truly hope this isn’t the final glimpse we catch of Zhou Guanyu for a while, considering the uncertainty of his position on the grid next year.”
“I fail to identify any potential position for him that he hasn’t already held, and it seems he would have departed from Sauber by the end of last year.”
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