F1: Zhou Guanyu’s Sauber future in doubt as reports link Nico Hulkenberg, Carlos Sainz with moves to new Audi-owned team
- Chinese Formula One driver’s contract expires this year and he looks likely to be without a team
- Hulkenberg’s deal at Haas comes to an end in 2024, while Sainz will leave Ferrari with Lewis Hamilton coming in
Chinese Formula One driver Zhou Guanyu’s future with Sauber now looks even less secure, amid reports in Germany that Nico Hulkenberg will sign for the outfit when his Haas contract expires this year.
Sport1 claim the German has been offered a three-year contract until 2027 – with Sauber being taken over by Audi from 2026 – and that an official announcement would be made in May.
As well as rumours surrounding the potential arrival of Hulkenberg, there have also been reports Carlos Sainz could arrive from Ferrari.
The Spaniard will need to leave, with Lewis Hamilton incoming, and Red Bull adviser Helmut Marko recently fuelled speculation when he said that they would be unable to compete with an offer from Audi.
It leaves Zhou, who has yet to pick up any racing points this term, in a perilous position.
“As much as I would love to stay with Stake F1 Team [Sauber], I feel like a long-term contract is something I’m going to chase, because having three years here as a rookie is a quite a nice thing to have,” he said.
“But I think from your third year, or fourth year [in F1] onwards, I think it’s right to say I’d like to have a longer contract, which can help you feel a lot more settled down, [and enable closer] development within the team. I think it’s also important to have the same crew with me to be able to have a massive influence on the project going forward.”
Before last weekend’s Chinese Grand Prix, Sauber team chief Alessandro Alunni Bravi was asked about the position of the team’s drivers, Zhou and Valtteri Bottas, but refused to give any assurances.
“There are 14 drivers without a contract fixed for next year,” he told reporters. “So, as all the teams, we are speaking with different drivers.
“It’s not the time for us to take any decision. It’s time to provide our drivers with a performing car. But let me say that we are happy that it seems that we can play a role, a different role in the drivers’ market for the future thanks to Audi’s announcement and all the investment that will be done in order to improve our team.
“So I think that is good news for our team. Finally we are attractive and we are not spectators, we are a player in the market.”
