Zhou Guanyu Opens Up: Sauber’s Struggles, Unfulfilled F1 Dreams, and Lingering Regrets

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Zhou Guanyu opens up to Crash.net about his challenges with Sauber, sharing insights on his Formula 1 aspirations and reflections on past regrets.

The 2024 F1 campaign has been a rollercoaster for Zhou Guanyu, marked by the realization of his lifelong ambitions alongside facing an unpredictable road ahead.

A cursory glance at this year's performance statistics might lead one to believe that Zhou has underperformed, not securing even one point and only managing an 11th place finish as his best result, thus questioning his eligibility for a seat in 2025.

However, paper by itself seldom reveals the entire narrative.

Sauber's vehicle ranks as the least speedy in the 2024 lineup, presenting a challenging drive. This pairing complicates the process of accurately assessing the abilities of its drivers.

"The season has been challenging," F1's inaugural Chinese competitor told Crash.net. "We've faced numerous problems at various times throughout the year."

"After things have stabilized, it's clear we're missing some performance from the car, unfortunately. This year’s model demands a unique approach behind the wheel, which I’ve been working to adapt to for improved results. However, it’s not a simple or quick adjustment to make."

The requirement to alter his driving technique has notably affected Zhou's performance during single-lap qualifying sessions.

"Adjusting my driving technique for just a single lap isn't exactly simple," he shared. "However, during a race, I find it relatively easy to modify it right from the start."

"The margin – for equilibrium, for the tires to function optimally – is incredibly narrow, necessitating perfection to fully harness the car's capabilities. Without this, we simply find ourselves short on overall traction."

"I tend to be more forceful and enjoy when the car is slightly out of control on the limit. However, with our present car, being overly forceful disrupts its stability significantly. Consequently, this has somewhat disadvantaged me during the qualifying rounds."

The performance of F1 drivers is inevitably tied to the caliber of the vehicles they're given. This reality has been Zhou's story for three years, as his true potential has been concealed by cars that are often not competitive and sometimes even prone to breakdowns.

Overall, the 25-year-old has shown commendable performance in Formula 1. He frequently matches the speed of Valtteri Bottas, a seasoned racer with 10 grand prix victories and 20 pole positions to his name. Zhou demonstrates consistent performance, rarely makes errors, and has encountered his fair share of misfortune throughout his career.

Zhou openly shared his disappointments and challenges during his complex time in F1, having accumulated 12 points across 60 grand prix races.

"Obviously, there are some things I wish were different; it's natural to feel that way," he conceded.

"I haven't experienced the easiest seasons so far. It feels like in my first year, numerous opportunities slipped away due to technical problems, and this year, it's about coming to terms with our current position."

"In the previous year, I had the impression I was putting in maximum effort and things seemed to be falling into place. However, I encountered some disappointment this year as I anticipated further improvement, yet it seemed we regressed. I had aspirations for superior outcomes in races where I believed I had a greater opportunity."

One notable instance of a missed chance due to bad luck occurred during last year's Hungarian Grand Prix.

Zhou achieved his highest F1 qualifying position, starting fifth, but a strange issue at the start led to a slow departure, causing him to fall behind. A collision with Daniel Ricciardo added to Zhou's troubles, resulting in him finishing 16th, a lap down.

Without the complication, reaching an all-time high achievement was a possibility.

"Zhou reflected on the experience, expressing that it was a letdown. However, he acknowledged the unpredictable nature of racing, expressing his appreciation for the opportunity to compete and to serve as a representative for Chinese drivers in the sport."

Zhou openly acknowledges his dissatisfaction with the progression of his 2024 season. Despite both Sauber drivers failing to score points, he lags behind his teammate Bottas by a margin of 11-5 in races, and 15-1 in qualifying rounds, excluding sprint events.

"This year, my satisfaction levels aren't as high," he admitted. "Approaching the middle of the season, just before the summer hiatus, I believe I could have performed better."

"I believe there were some errors, or during the qualifying round, I couldn't fully apply myself. Clearly, I'm facing the challenge of adjusting my driving technique, which sometimes leads to errors. From this perspective, I feel I could perform better."

"Besides that, I feel that over the last two and a half seasons, I've managed to progressively enhance my performance and make improvements, which pleases me. However, this season brings a blend of emotions due to various factors."

Zhou is battling to secure his future in Formula 1, aware that he faces stiff competition from at least one other driver for the last available spot at Sauber. The reality is that only one can succeed, putting Zhou at significant risk of losing his position in the sport.

Should this mark the end of Zhou's journey in Formula 1, his poignant and groundbreaking return at this year's Chinese Grand Prix will undoubtedly be remembered as a highlight.

"Zhou expressed that his most memorable career moment was undoubtedly his first Grand Prix [Bahrain 2022]. He mentioned that earning points in his first race was beyond his dreams or expectations, making it a truly honorable achievement."

"The Chinese Grand Prix felt like realizing a childhood fantasy within Formula 1. Naturally, making it to F1 is a dream in itself, but competing on your home turf, where it all began, epitomized the 2004 Chinese Grand Prix."

"After two decades, to be embodying that ambition, a goal beyond F1 I realized that day, was surreal. The energy and support from the audience were overwhelming in my favor. That day is unforgettable for me."

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