Sauber have announced that Valtteri Bottas and Guanyu Zhou will leave the team at the end of 2024 F1 season.
Bottas joined Sauber from Mercedes in 2022 and has amassed 59 points for the team in three seasons, of which he finished 10th in the driver standings in 2022 with 49 points.
He however slipped to 15th last season with just ten points from four points finishes, of which his eighth-placed at the 2023 Qatar Grand Prix was his last top-ten finish following a poor 2024 season.
Zhou meanwhile joined at the same time as Bottas and finished 18th in both 2022 & 23 seasons with six points, but he like his teammate is yet to score points this season with three Grands Prix plus one sprint race left.
Sauber consequently released a statement on social media confirming that neither driver will continue with the team next season, albeit following ‘open and constructive discussions’ with both drivers.
After open and constructive discussions with Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu, we mutually concluded that conditions to continue together could not be met so we agreed that it is time to part ways. We would like to thank both for the contribution they have made to the team in the… pic.twitter.com/Gaqmu5trt7
— Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber (@stakef1team_ks) November 6, 2024
Zhou in response issued a statement in response speaking of his pride at becoming the first Chinese driver in F1, but iterated that he is currently in discussions about a potential role elsewhere in the paddock.
#TeamZHOU pic.twitter.com/gsdb5tIYET
— 周冠宇 | Zhou Guanyu 🇨🇳 (@ZhouGuanyu24) November 6, 2024
Sauber COO and CTO, Mattia Binotto paid tribute to Zhou for his “commitment and hunger” to succeed in three tough seasons.
“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.”
“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,” commented Bottas on confirmation of his exit.
“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.”
Binotto added: “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.”
Leave a Reply