The fight to stay on the Formula 1 grid continues for a dozen soon-to-be out-of-contract drivers after the Chinese Grand Prix.
Nico Hulkenberg was another standout performer and that might be the reason why he’s now taken one step closer to securing his future for next year.
Speaking on the Sky Sports F1 Podcast, commentator David Croft believes there’s one driver on the grid who is facing the opposite situation.
A previous report suggested that five drivers were in serious contention of losing their seats in Formula 1.
With exciting rookies and reserve drivers waiting for their turn and drivers like Hulkenberg hoping to move to a stronger team in the paddock, then all of a sudden, every session becomes more important.
The Chinese Grand Prix was an emotional event for Zhou Guanyu but David Croft isn’t sure if he did enough at the weekend – or during the previous four races – to guarantee a seat in 2025.
The Sky Sports commentator believes he’s better than the Sauber that he’s currently driving.
Unfortunately, the way the driver market is panning out, he’s not shown enough to secure a fourth season on the grid.
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David Croft worried Zhou Guanyu won’t be on the F1 grid in 2025
Since Zhou Guanyu’s debut for Alfa Romeo at the start of 2022, the Chinese driver has been in one of the weakest cars on the grid.
He outperformed expectations that day in Bahrain, finishing 10 and scoring his first Formula 1 point.
Zhou had to wait another eight races to finish in the top ten again and throughout his entire F1 career, he’s only finished in the points on six occasions.
That’s a very average return although last season Valtteri Bottas didn’t do much better.
Croft is adamant that Zhou deserves another shot at Formula 1 in 2025 but can’t see a scenario where that happens.
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Zhou Guanyu fighting for his Formula 1 future
Talking about Zhou’s future, Croft said: “I don’t think you keep a driver in a sport just because the popularity of that driver is such that it guarantees a full house at the Grand Prix.
“You know, we’re not to WWE levels just yet.
“But, personally, I think Zhou Guanyu deserves a place on the grid. I think he’s a much better driver than that Sauber allows him to show more often than not.
“Those scenes, that emotion, it just in the back of my mind I was just thinking, ‘Oh, I hope this isn’t the last and it might well be the last for Zhou Guanyu for some time’.
“I don’t see where he lines up on the grid next year, I don’t see where there’s a place for him that he wouldn’t have already been at and would have left Sauber at the end of last year if that makes any sense.”
Nico Hulkenberg’s arrival at Sauber next year before they become Audi means Bottas and Zhou will be fighting over the last remaining seat for 2025 and Croft doesn’t offer the 24-year-old much hope.
That pair of drivers are also likely to be facing one of the most in-form stars on the grid in the battle to secure that seat: Carlos Sainz.
Even if Zhou can get the better of Bottas in the coming weeks and months, if Sainz agrees a deal with Audi then he’s suddenly scrambling to find a seat elsewhere.
He’s been talked about as an ideal driver for Gene Haas, but a straight swap with Hulkenberg appears unlikely right now considering how excited the team are about Oliver Bearman.
The post ‘I don’t see where’: David Croft worried that 24-year-old who ‘deserves’ an F1 seat will be gone in 2025 appeared first on F1 Oversteer.
