Zhou Guanyu was an overlooked ‘standout’ for Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber at the Bahrain Grand Prix, BBC F1 commentator Harry Benjamin says.
Zhou narrowly missed out on a points finish as he brought home his Sauber in 11th, one spot behind Aston Martin driver Lance Stroll.
Benjamin hailed Zhou in the wake of an impressive Saturday charge from 17th on the grid.
Zhou was the first driver to make a scheduled pit stop, and one of the first to come in for a second time, and the aggressive strategy paid off.
The 24-year-old is embarking on his third year in Formula 1 and will hope to beat teammate Valtteri Bottas for the first time.
In his rookie campaign, Bottas finished eight spots ahead after out-scoring the Chinese driver by 43 points.
Last year, the Finn narrowly had the edge as the team regressed, posting 10 points to Zhou’s six.
Harry Benjamin praises Zhou Guanyu after Bahrain
Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live’s Chequered Flag Podcast, Benjamin said Zhou’s ‘impressive’ display had gone under the radar.
He thinks it’s exactly the kind of drive the former F3 Asia champion will need to produce in 2024.
“Really impressed, quietly impressive by him actually,” he said (30:00). “Standout for Zhou, what he needs for this season as well.”
Cause for optimism for Sauber after round one
While Sauber will head to the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix this weekend without any points on the board, they have shown they can be competitive in the midfield.
Bottas saw his race ruined by contact with Nico Hulkenberg at the first corner, which damaged his front wing, and then a pit stop that lasted more than 50 seconds.
But the Finn has already offered a positive assessment of his new C44, which he says has no fundamental weaknesses.
The team will hope for a better qualifying result in Jeddah in order to build on the promise Zhou showed on race day.
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