Can Guanyu Zhou hope for a return to Formula 1?

He had hoped for it for a long time, but this second Sauber seat to accompany Nico Hulkenberg in 2025 finally returned to the young Gabriel Bortoleto, 2024 champion of Formula 2. So, Guanyu-Zhou found himself with nothing. Not even a reserve position, at least for the moment, on the side of Hinwil where he spent the last three seasons.

So what will his future hold? One thing is certain, he will not be a starter in F1 next year. The last place still in play, at Red Bull, should probably go to Liam Lawson, allowing Frenchman Isack Hadjar to be promoted to Racing Bulls while putting a definitive end to the Chinese player's hopes of being a regular in 2025, even if the door to the Austrian universe has never really been open to him.

"A lot of things behind the scenes"

In the meantime, his name has been mentioned at the heart of several rumors in the paddock at the end of the season. It was once said that the Formula E was interested in him while the CEO of the championship, Jeff Dodds, had acknowledged in the summer that having a Chinese driver in the discipline could have "an explosive effect". A track ultimately dismissed.

The best option for him at the moment would be to find a reserve role among the 10 teams on the grid. An opportunity for him to stay in touch with F1 and thus avoid his name being forgotten over time. A few weeks ago, our Italian colleagues from Corriere della Sera had announced that Guanyu Zhou was expected at Ferrari to occupy this position. A decision that is in line with the desires of the electric championship in order to have a “bankable” profile in order to attack the Chinese market for the Team. But since then, nothing more…

« There's a lot going on behind the scenes, so you just have to make the right decision., confided the person concerned. from The Athletic in Las Vegas. This choice must be able [me] allow to be [in a situation] comfortable, then I could really give it my all, and hopefully I can get back on the grid one day »

No category change and Cadillac option in sight

Currently on the sidelines, Guanyu Zhou is waiting to define the rest of his career with only one idea in mind: to stay in F1. It is therefore out of the question for the now ex-Sauber to try his luck in another discipline. By opting for this path, he believes that he would lose out, moving away from Formula 1 for good.

« At this stage of my career, I think it is not yet the right time to change categories, because it is always difficult to come backhe explained. But also on my side, I want to be in this paddock. I want to be ready every weekend, and if I have the opportunity to get back in a car, I will take full advantage of it and try to show what I am capable of. »

While waiting for a possible short-term opportunity, the Chinese could look ahead to the 2026 season. The one that will mark the arrival of Cadillac as the 11th team on the grid and consequently the opening of two new “positions”. Inevitably, the former protégé ofAlpine will be keen to show himself to hope to be a real candidate for this new project. Good news for him, his agent Graeme Lowdon has been appointed director. So maybe he is already starting with a head start to hope to make his big comeback in a little over a year…

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