“Zhou Guanyu doesn't deserve a seat”: F1 champion blasts Sauber driver after a torrid run of form

F1 world champion Jacques Villeneuve has claimed that Kick Sauber driver Zhou Guanyu "doesn't deserve an F1 seat" after his contract with the team expires at the end of the 2024 season. The only Chinese driver on the grid joined the Hinwil-based outfit at the beginning of 2022 in his debut season after a strong showing in the F2 season a year earlier.

In the following three years, Zhou has failed to deliver consistent results with only a handful of praiseworthy drives. The 25-year-old reportedly isn't in the running to retain his seat with the team which will become Audi in 2026.

Villeneuve recently discussed Zhou's chances of getting a seat for the 2025 season and said (via InstantCasino):

“Zhou Guanyu has a big luggage of cash in his sponsors that he needs to put somewhere, whether that’s as an F1 driver or a reserve driver. Based on the results, Zhou doesn’t deserve a seat in F1. If a team can get all that sponsorship money that Zhou brings with him, even as a reserve drive, then it’s a great result for them.”

Recently, Zhou Guanyu also provided an update about his future and said (via PlanetF1):

“I want to stay here, that’s very clear. But of course, we’re talking to different options, as well as with Sauber. Nothing’s been decided."

Further, Zhou has stated that there are a lot of "stupid" rumors regarding his discussions in the driver market over the last couple of months given that his contract with the Swiss team is set to be up this year.

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Zhou Guanyu hits out at the media over speculations regarding his future

Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber driver Zhou Guanyu recently addressed rumors including those of Chinese investment being a factor in his stay in F1 and said (via RacingNews365):

"Firstly, there's a lot of stupid rumors from the media. I heard some rumors in the past, and it's the first time I'm speaking to someone [about it], just because I want to say it clearly. People say I don't know how much money I'm bringing, that I'm speaking to one of the teams, not here [at Sauber].

"What I mean is that I barely spoke to them in that period, but they [rumors] just come up with the amount of sponsor money I could bring to the table. I wish I had that, maybe I can invest together in Sauber and make a benefit of it."

Zhou is one of three drivers on the F1 grid this year, alongside his teammate Valtteri Bottas and Logan Sargeant, to have not scored a point yet. He is P19 in the Drivers' Championship, ahead of Bottas and Sargeant.