During the gap between the Japanese and Chinese Grands Prix, Fernando Alonso committed his future to Aston Martin. The Spaniard signed a new multi-year deal with the team that runs until at least the end of 2026.
He becomes the latest driver at F1’s top-five teams pledged for 2025 and beyond. Max Verstappen (2028), George Russell (2025), Charles Leclerc (2029), Lando Norris (2028) and Oscar Piastri (2026) are all in the same boat.
Lewis Hamilton, meanwhile, opted out of the second year of his Mercedes deal and instead signed with Ferrari. That just leaves Sergio Perez and Carlos Sainz needing to resolve their future.
Perez is fighting to keep his drive at Red Bull, with his terms due to expire at the end of the campaign. Sainz, meanwhile, must find a new team after Ferrari released him to bring in Hamilton.
In F1’s midfield, the picture is very different. Williams driver Alex Albon is under contract for 2025, but everybody else is up for renegotiation.
For the first time in F1 history, the composition of the grid remained the same over the winter. But there’s bound to be a reshuffle this time around.
Zhou Guanyu says he’s finding one thing mentally ‘tricky’ this season
Speaking on the Beyond the Grid podcast, Sauber’s Zhou Guanyu addressed his future. Sure enough, Zhou is one of the nine drivers at the bottom-five teams who’s out of contract.
The 24-year-old, who will race on home soil for the first time in his F1 career this weekend, is nearing a half-century of race starts. In two-and-a-bit seasons, he’s delivered 12 points.
He admits it’s difficult to operate under the certainty of a one-year deal. In his eyes, it’s easier to commit to a team wholeheartedly when they’ve signed you up for multiple seasons.
He said: “I’d definitely prefer to be getting it sorted and knowing what I’m doing for the next few years. I can be fully committed to the programme, to the project going ahead with any team.
“As a rookie coming into Formula 1, it’s not like maybe 10 years ago – a new driver coming into Formula 1, they [would] always have a two or three-year contract. Now the team want an individual contract and want to see you perform. Having individual yearly contracts is tough for the mental side, because you want to limit your mistakes, but at the same time you want to be sure [in] your passion of progression as a driver to the team.
“That’s where the hard thing comes – summer time, September, you’re still not sure exactly [what] the contract plan [is]. They can’t give you the green [light]. When are you going to sign? That’s when things become tricky.”
Will Carlos Sainz sign for Audi?
One complicating factor for Zhou and indeed teammate Valtteri Bottas is the imminent arrival of Audi. The German manufacturer will take control of the Sauber team from the 2026 season onwards.
But they already appear to be exerting an influence over their driver line-up for 2025. And they’re not convinced that either Zhou or Bottas have done enough to merit an extension.
The Chinese driver has done little to improve his chances so far this season. Indeed, he’s started the last three races at the back of the field.
Reports suggest Audi are actively shopping around, with Sainz and Haas’ Nico Hulkenberg their top two targets. Elsewhere, they have held talks with Alpine duo Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon.
Perez could be an option too if he ends up losing his seat at Red Bull. And then there’s the wildcard option of bringing four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel out of retirement.
As of right now, all signs seem to point to Zhou losing his seat, and potentially his spot on the grid. He needs to produce an eye-catching run of form to boost his prospects.
The post ‘Things become tricky’: £31k-a-week driver admits uncertainty over his future is really ‘tough’ right now appeared first on F1 Oversteer.