It’s not been the easiest start to the 2024 Formula 1 campaign for Zhou Guanyu.
The newly renamed Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber are still pointless after the first four races of the season.
He was speaking to journalist Tom Clarkson on the Beyond The Grid Podcast and talking about the campaign so far
Zhou Guanyu started the season brightly, narrowly missing out on the points in Bahrain with an 11-place finish.
Unfortunately, his race in Saudi Arabia was scuppered by one of Sauber’s infamous dodgy pit stops and he’s started either last or from the pit lane in three consecutive races.
Poor reliability has underpinned his F1 career but that won’t help him as he seeks another contract beyond 2024.
Speaking about the start of this season, Zhou highlighted a key moment in Saudi Arabia courtesy of Kevin Magnussen.
In the battle between the bottom five teams, every point is going to be crucial this season.
The 31-year-old produced one of the most widely talked about performances to help earn teammate Nico Hulkenberg Haas’s first point of the campaign.
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Zhou Guanyu gives verdict on ‘extreme’ Kevin Magnussen drive in Saudi Arabia
Haas had a very poor 2023 and promoted Ayao Komatsu into the team principal role after parting ways with Guenther Steiner.
Komatsu set expectations low during the winter, but they surprised many by being competitive within the bottom half of the grid.
However, as Zhou suggests, Magnussen and Hulkenberg sensed an opportunity during the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix to capitalise on Lance Stroll’s crash and pick up a coveted top-ten finish.
Magnussen did everything he could to slow down the cars behind him – picking up two penalties in the process – to open up a gap for his teammate.
Hulkenberg was able to pit and stay ahead of his rivals, scoring a vital point that the pair then followed up in Australia with a double-points finish.
READ MORE: Sauber driver Zhou Guanyu’s life outside F1 from height to net worth
Zhou Guanyu shares Sauber teammate stance after Haas pairing thrive in Jeddah
Zhou was speaking about the battles with his teammate Valtteri Bottas, and podcast host Tom Clarkson said: “It’s a bit like what we saw the Haas guys doing in Saudi Arabia. You would work for each other in the same way?
Zhou: “Yeah, I don’t think any of us can be as extreme as [Kevin] Magnussen!”
Clarkson: “Twelve seconds in 18 laps I think he gained!’
Zhou: “Yeah, but he also had a 20-second penalty. Obviously, I think things like that definitely people are looking into that a little bit.
“But we are definitely working still as a team and of course this year for all the drivers on the grid, with the contracts expiring and everyone wanting to show their own potential, everyone wants to be the best of themselves and for whatever reason for their career.”
While Zhou and Valtteri Bottas are unlikely to replicate Magnussen’s heroics in Saudi Arabia, the 24-year-old will be acutely aware of how important his upcoming performances are.
Damon Hill has suggested that Zhou has exceeded his expectations since joining the F1 grid, but that won’t be enough to earn him another race seat.
Both Sauber drivers are in danger of losing their seats as Audi explore alternative options in the driver market.
Given their lowly standing in the constructors battle right now, Zhou and Bottas will be hard-pressed to find another team willing to give them a shot if they’re released.
The Finn also comes with much more experience than the 24-year-old meaning if it’s a shootout between the pair, it’s hard to see Zhou come out on top at this stage.
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