Zhou joined the workforce previously referred to as Alfa Romeo for 2022 however owing to being the primary full-time Chinese language driver in F1 historical past, some speculated that his seat was purchased slightly than earned.
He combated that by scoring factors on his debut in Bahrain earlier than incomes a one-year contract for 2023. It was finally introduced that he had signed for 2024 on one other 12-month deal.
Whereas taking on an choice deal for team-mate Valtteri Bottas to hold on for subsequent season was seen as a formality, there have been query marks over Zhou’s future on the Swiss squad. Folks speculated that maybe an absence of monetary backing was behind the delayed affirmation.
Talking solely to Motorsport.com, Zhou hit again at these rumours saying any delay was right down to “remaining little particulars” and that “politics” was guilty for rumours arising.
Requested if there was any reality to not having sufficient monetary backing, Zhou replied: “It is politics!
“Folks had been saying Sergio [Perez] would retire within the Mexico GP however nothing goes on. It’s the rumours of Fernando [Alonso] swapping his seat [to join Red Bull]. That is loopy.
“I truly perceive extra concerning the media, particularly when you might have different drivers, or from the medias of that nation making rumours, makes you are concerned. However from the within out, you recognize what is going on on. You’re fairly straightforward understanding about them.”
Picture by: Glenn Dunbar / Motorsport Photos
Zhou Guanyu, Alfa Romeo C43
Zhou maintained all through negotiations that his precedence was to stay at Sauber – which was additionally weighing up the way forward for junior driver and FIA F2 champion Theo Pourchaire – slightly than store round to line up different F1 groups.
Because the hypothesis over his future surfaced, Zhou reckoned he may snigger the questions off, including that he doesn’t “give a shit” concerning the noise given he is aware of it to be false.
Zhou continued: “I do not give a shit about it, to be sincere! It’s like all the opposite loopy stuff I received after I first signed my contract.
“I used to be like, ‘I’ll simply let it circulation, I’ll ensure I do the speaking on observe; ensuring folks respect why I am right here’. All the pieces’s been good since then.
“I am simply fairly laid again but it surely’s truly fairly enjoyable at instances to see some rumours as a result of you recognize what’s coming – you signed the contract, there’s nonetheless rumours about different individuals are taking your seat.
“It is fairly humorous typically.”
