Valtteri Bottas is adamant that Sauber team-mate Guanuu Zhou would be a valuable asset to sides on the Formula 1 grid amid his uncertain prospects past this term.
Both Bottas and Zhou are resigned to not being alongside each other next season amid Sauber’s choice to sign Nico Hulkenberg from Haas as it builds towards Audi.
Sauber has expressed an interest in courting other drivers rather than retaining one from its current line-up, with Bottas known to be in talks with Williams over a seat.
But although the Finn boasts confidence that he will retain his place in 2025, Zhou’s options to salvage his F1 career and extend his three-year stint look more limited.
The Chinese driver seemed to have taken a step forward in his sophomore campaign as he slashed the one-lap deficit to Bottas and lost the race head-to-head 12-10.
However, Zhou has struggled as Sauber has endured trouble with an uncompetitive C45 car and he’s out-qualified Bottas once across the opening 12 rounds in 2024.
Bottas has revealed that Zhou’s woes, which have seen him revert to an earlier-specification chassis, have hampered his endeavours as he’s lacked a true benchmark.
“He made a big step from first year to last year, he clearly improved in everything going on in his race graph, from pure qualifying speed, on his feedback, on his confidence.
“But he’s definitely had a little bit harder time this year. I think he’s not been that comfortable with a car. Probably it’s not helping his confidence either.
“So, it’s been a bit of a struggle for him. But that’s good to see actually in Barcelona, he was on the good strategy.
“And actually, I think his performance was solid in the race, like he did a good job in the race.
“So I would imagine now he will start to pick up his competence again and getting back to where he should be. Because last year in qualifying we were actually quite close.
“But now there’s been more of a gap and that also means I’m lacking a bit of reference, sometimes, in terms of the data comparison stuff.
“I’m expecting him to kind of step up again, but between me and him it´s great, we’ve always been good team-mates together, so nothing has changed on that side.”
Zhou’s chances at securing a seat elsewhere appear bleak as Haas is lining up Esteban Ocon, while both Alpine and Williams are waiting upon Carlos Sainz to decide.
However, Zhou expressed at Silverstone earlier this month that there were still opportunities in the driver market, which could extend to him keeping his current place.
The Hinwil-based squad’s strive to acquire outgoing Ferrari driver Sainz is ever-diminishing, while the side’s rumoured backup names have also declined its advances.
When asked whether he thinks Zhou would be a good asset to another team, Bottas responded: “I think he can. I think, he just needs to now find the confidence back.
“I hope he finds something for next year, I think he’s proven that he can do it.”
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