Bottas and Zhou set to leave after horror season

Swiss Formula One team, Sauber, have announced that both their current Formula One drivers, Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu will be leaving the team at the end of the Formula One 2024 season. Bottas and Zhou will finish three seasons with Sauber at the end of the ongoing season with the team going through a tough time, having not scored any points after 21 races in the season. 

Zhou made his Formula One debut with Sauber and became the first full-time F1 driver in the sports’ history while Bottas moved from Mercedes to Sauber and the two helped Sauber net their best finish in the Constructors’ Standing in a decade, as they finished P6 in 2022. 

With Bottas and Zhou both set to leave, it leaves the second seat beside Nico Hülkenberg, open and up for grabs.

Mattia Binotto, COO & CTO, Sauber Motorsport AG, said,

“The last three years have seen our team grow significantly on and off the track, and both Valtteri and Zhou have played a big role in this progression. At this time, however, following our discussion with Zhou, we have decided that our future lies in different places. We are grateful to Zhou for the last three years, for the commitment and the hunger he has shown from the first moment he drove for us to today. Scoring points on debut and helping the team to P6 in 2022 was a statement of intent, but so was his contribution off track and at the factory. We want to celebrate our journey together with three strong races to finish this season, and both the team and Zhou are committed to giving everything in Las Vegas, Doha and Abu Dhabi together.

‘We extend our deepest gratitude to Valtteri for the past three years together. He has been the embodiment of professionalism, using his vast experience to support the team’s growth. Valtteri’s dedication and approach have been invaluable during a pivotal time in our history, and the memories of these years will stay with us for a long time. In considering our driver line-up for the coming seasons, Valtteri was unquestionably a key candidate. With his fighting spirit, he frequently pushed the car beyond its performance limits. “However, a decision had to be made. After open and constructive discussions, we mutually concluded that final conditions could not be met so we agreed that it is time to part ways. Valtteri will always have an open door here in Hinwil.”

Valtteri Bottas, said,

“A situation like this is never easy for anyone but after all the good and in-depth discussions we had in the past weeks, we realised that the conditions to grow this project together were not met,” said Bottas following the confirmation of the team’s decision. These past years with the team have been an incredible journey, full of growth, challenges, and unforgettable moments. I’m grateful for the joint experiences as well as the trust and support I’ve felt every step of the way. Though it’s time to move on, I’ll always carry a piece of this team with me, and I look forward to seeing what the future holds for us both.”

Zhou Guanyu, added,

“I will leave the team at the end of the season, but I am fully committed to finishing the season in style. I am grateful to the team for giving me a chance in Formula One: this is not an easy sport for rookies, but the team has allowed me to grow so much over these three years. China, earlier this season, was without doubt a highlight, but so many moments, both in public and behind the scenes, are what I am going to remember from the last three years. I’ll now focus on the next step in my career: I still have plenty of fight left in me and I am keen to continue progressing.”