Zhou Guanyu says that he’s yet to make a decision on a future reserve role, with Ferrari currently favourite to secure the services of the Sauber driver.
Zhou is well known to Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur, who was his team boss at the then Alfa Romeo outfit in 2022.
The Chinese driver has a had a difficult 2024 season with an uncompetitive car, and has often been behind team mate Valtteri Bottas on upgrade specs.
However his three seasons recent race experience makes him an obvious candidates for any teams requiring a reserve driver for 2025.
“We are talking to several teams, and of course Ferrari remains one of the teams really interested in me,” he said of his future. Despite that, from what AutoRacer.it has learnt, Ferrari is not interested in having Guanyu Zhou as a reserve driver for next year
“And yeah, we need to see. Obviously, there’s a lot of things coming up in the next few weekends for us to make a decision, but it’s clear that we are going through all the options we have, and then to see where we are.”
“But of course, from my side, obviously, I don’t want to be committed to the future just yet, because I need to making sure everything is set down and it’s clear, and I have a massive commitment to the next project. So hopefully something will be happening or decided soon.”
Regarding the timing he said: “I think it will be somewhere around the next few weeks, I’ll have a clear idea. But when would I announce, I don’t know.”
“At the moment, I haven’t signed anything. You need to find the right time, so nothing has been fully [agreed] until the details are right. But we’re working on it, and we’ll see what’s the future.”
Zhou had one of his best weekends of the season in Las Vegas thanks to a successful upgrade package introduced for the last three races. From 13th on the grid he had a solid race to 14th at the flag.
“I think that’s the best we’ve be in a while, since the summer,” he said. “First of all, I’m just really happy obviously with the upgrades working, and the team gave me a car that I can finally fight with, and feeling of finding the confidence back, which is a main topic I’m extremely happy with.”
“It’s been very positive this weekend in terms of that. Today’s race was clean, but not a lot happening ahead, so we can’t really make much more than what we were.”
He added: “We have a new package, and I think it’s been a while that both cars are having that. And also for me, this weekend it’s good to be finally trying that, not just having something new straight away for a sprint race weekend like we did in Sao Paulo.”
“It’s good to at least test that, and finding this rhythm, this balance we needed before qualifying to make it work. So clearly, I think this direction for next year is in the right way, this new package. But a bit late than I hoped! But I’m just going to try to enjoy it as much as I can.”
Zhou admitted that the car’s poor form had not helped his efforts to secure a seat for 2025.
“It’s been one of bitter disappointment this season obviously,” he said. “And especially the second part, not having the upgrades we wanted to have, and always having the old package. So it forced me back a little bit while it was a very important timing for my future.
“But in another way, like I said, I’m very relieved and looking forward for the next two races and together with the next chapter. So I want to make sure I give the guys as much credit as I can for the remaining races, and to see where we are.”
