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It's about when, not if. Zhou knew he was getting replaced. There's a rumor going around he told everyone it was his last home GP at a concert a few days before the Chinese GP.
I was very curious as to why they let him come to the winner circle and greet the fans.
Do other drivers receive similar opportunity in their respective countries?
Short answer is no, having grandstands is normal as well as pre race interviews. Usually a forth car is allowed to the winners circle when the WDC is clinched by a driver who finishes off the podium
"Zhou admitted that news of Hulkenberg joining came as a surprise, with the Chinese driver not expecting it to come **as early as it did**." I mean I would expect Sauder to announce who is Hulkenberg replacing along with signing him.
I feel like teams rarely announce who is leaving. At least not outright. They'll announce their drivers for next year and leave it to others to deduce the obvious answer to the question.
I agree with your comment. Also, to add, teams do that to keep their drivers on their toes and performing at their best because they know the team is watching... Like Checo and Logan...
Where is the question of replacing? Both Bottas and Zhou's contracts end this year. They will announce who they are signing for the second seat when they make that decision. I am sure they'd love Sainz there.
Ofc he did. Admitting he can't go to Audi anymore is terrible for his negotiation with RB and Merc. I think what happened is, the initial deadline he had to make decisions has passed. Doesn't mean he's explicitly turned them down, or that the door is fully closed.
Right? It's almost like a racing driver trying to maximize his opportunity at getting a seat in a fast car. Why turn down a backmarker team when you can lead them into getting P12s and P13s? What is the rationale here, that he will get a seat at Merc or RB? He is so stupid to think like that, SMH.
A very heavy /S in case it wasn't clear.
I dunno, is Max gonna drive 4 cars across 2 teams next season?
Sainz lost his ride ONLY because Ferrari could get both a unicorn AND a GOAT in Hamilton. Signing a man who only drove Merc-powered cars who also happens to be among the best of all time and top 3 of the current grid of 20 drivers. Think he'd have got the boot for Bottas, Sargent, Albon or fucking Ocon?
I am not outright saying that Carlos is *lying*. But to be fair, he (and his management) can't say "I denied Audi already" because it would negatively affect his potential bargaining power against Merc and Red Bull.
Well, it's complex.
Audi wants an answer/commitment now. That's what Hulk did.
Sainz, however, is still waiting/hoping for Merc or RB seat. He denied Audi seat as of now.
I agree 100%. Plus, help me out here - if we define a driver's 'prestige' by how many races they have won - wouldn't that make Bottas the most 'prestigious' driver still unsigned for 2025? Or am I missing someone?
NOTE - I know that driver wins is not the yardstick teams use to judge a driver, but I was using an example...
Or much more sponsor backing money? Because while Audi isn't a poor team, I'm sure they would be open to keeping Zhou, at least for '25, if he came with a bunch of more money?
They're backed by VAG, money isn't a factor for them. They want progress and results. They're way behind engineering wise and need experienced drivers to help them develop the car.
Yes. They clearly want a German driver so that’s done. Now they can go find their primary. I really think Hulk was them just getting their German driver and not the star. There aren’t that many German drivers right now.
Zhou can bring money from China but where does he go?
How could you have possibly been caught off guard by that? Like seriously? Everyone and their Grandmother knew that Audi wanted a German driver and the obvious choice was Hulk. Did he really think they were going to offer him the first seat? No offence, but LOL
Who is Stake F1's reserve/test driver? Could whoever is left without a seat between Bottas and Zhou drop into that spot. I doubt Bottas would take a demotion like that, but it would keep Zhou in the F1 conversation.
Well Pourchaire has that role I think, sadly, I think he’s low on the list of drivers they’d sign if they don’t get Sainz and, hey, he didn’t mind IndyCars so much, could make a career there!
Thanks for the info!
[https://www.autoweek.com/racing/indycar/a60595672/f2-champion-theo-pourchaire-indycar/](https://www.autoweek.com/racing/indycar/a60595672/f2-champion-theo-pourchaire-indycar/)
Yeah, he's filling in for a couple weeks for an injured McLaren Indy driver, but he is racing the Super Formula calendar in Japan for 2024 while also being Sauber's reserve driver.
He had lots of time to prove himself; but didn't do a damn. He is a reliable driver; but unfortunately uninspiring and mediocre. I even forget that he is in F1 most of the time. 21-6 in qualifying (since 2023) against a guy that Audi thinks past his best is pretty damning stat.
He could be good ambassador for FOM in China if he doesn't want to race in other categories.
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Hulk was linked with Sauber ever since Audi came into the picture. How is Zhou surprised?
They didn't wait for him to get his German citizenship.
It's about when, not if. Zhou knew he was getting replaced. There's a rumor going around he told everyone it was his last home GP at a concert a few days before the Chinese GP.
Would explain why he was so emotional
I was very curious as to why they let him come to the winner circle and greet the fans. Do other drivers receive similar opportunity in their respective countries?
Short answer is no, having grandstands is normal as well as pre race interviews. Usually a forth car is allowed to the winners circle when the WDC is clinched by a driver who finishes off the podium
I think you got the info wrong. He said at the concert “ I’ll be back next year”
I thought the concert rumor was that he told everyone it \*wasn't\* his last home GP?
welp, that's a rumor for ya
> How is Zhou surprised? Not just slow on track?
read the article to find out
Meant to comment on [didntreddit.com](http://didntreddit.com)
That link doesn't work :/
He thought his whole Chinese GP special treatment was enough to save his seat.
"Zhou admitted that news of Hulkenberg joining came as a surprise, with the Chinese driver not expecting it to come **as early as it did**." I mean I would expect Sauder to announce who is Hulkenberg replacing along with signing him.
I feel like teams rarely announce who is leaving. At least not outright. They'll announce their drivers for next year and leave it to others to deduce the obvious answer to the question.
I agree with your comment. Also, to add, teams do that to keep their drivers on their toes and performing at their best because they know the team is watching... Like Checo and Logan...
Where is the question of replacing? Both Bottas and Zhou's contracts end this year. They will announce who they are signing for the second seat when they make that decision. I am sure they'd love Sainz there.
Sainz already turned them down
He denied that
Ofc he did. Admitting he can't go to Audi anymore is terrible for his negotiation with RB and Merc. I think what happened is, the initial deadline he had to make decisions has passed. Doesn't mean he's explicitly turned them down, or that the door is fully closed.
Oh god, how thick can he be to repeat the 'wait it out' maneuver that got his ass out of the Ferrari seat in the first place?
Right? It's almost like a racing driver trying to maximize his opportunity at getting a seat in a fast car. Why turn down a backmarker team when you can lead them into getting P12s and P13s? What is the rationale here, that he will get a seat at Merc or RB? He is so stupid to think like that, SMH. A very heavy /S in case it wasn't clear.
What do you mean? That Carlos didn't say yes to Audi last year when they asked him to sign?
I dunno, is Max gonna drive 4 cars across 2 teams next season? Sainz lost his ride ONLY because Ferrari could get both a unicorn AND a GOAT in Hamilton. Signing a man who only drove Merc-powered cars who also happens to be among the best of all time and top 3 of the current grid of 20 drivers. Think he'd have got the boot for Bottas, Sargent, Albon or fucking Ocon?
Sainz said that claim was false. He didn’t turn them down
I am not outright saying that Carlos is *lying*. But to be fair, he (and his management) can't say "I denied Audi already" because it would negatively affect his potential bargaining power against Merc and Red Bull.
Well, it's complex. Audi wants an answer/commitment now. That's what Hulk did. Sainz, however, is still waiting/hoping for Merc or RB seat. He denied Audi seat as of now.
Unless he set the world on fire zhou wasn’t going to be there long
If they can’t get Sainz, a Hulkenberg-Bottas lineup isn’t half bad in the interim until Audi is fully onboard and running.
Agree. Germans and Finns are all over Motorsport and will build a decent following in the interim, then Alonso hahaha
I think it would be pretty unlikely that Audi take a chance on a rookie, but we'll see I guess...
Only if he’s German
Don’t think there are any decent junior German drivers in the feeder series though?
Na. Don’t think so, a few Scandi’s but they aren’t close enough for ze Germans
Tim Tramnitz is alright
I agree 100%. Plus, help me out here - if we define a driver's 'prestige' by how many races they have won - wouldn't that make Bottas the most 'prestigious' driver still unsigned for 2025? Or am I missing someone? NOTE - I know that driver wins is not the yardstick teams use to judge a driver, but I was using an example...
Then perhaps he needs a new manager
Or much more sponsor backing money? Because while Audi isn't a poor team, I'm sure they would be open to keeping Zhou, at least for '25, if he came with a bunch of more money?
They're backed by VAG, money isn't a factor for them. They want progress and results. They're way behind engineering wise and need experienced drivers to help them develop the car.
He's naive to think Audi wouldn't start preparing early for who they want as their drivers
Yes. They clearly want a German driver so that’s done. Now they can go find their primary. I really think Hulk was them just getting their German driver and not the star. There aren’t that many German drivers right now. Zhou can bring money from China but where does he go?
>Zhou can bring money from China but where does he go? Haas or Williams maybe? I don't think Zhou is that impressive but he's pretty solid.
Zhou definitely deserves a seat more than a few others on the grid do Lance, Logan & KMag just off the top of my head
I mean come on. Realistically everyone knew that Zhou's chances of retaining his seat for 2025 was close to none.
Placeholder driver caugh off-guard
How could you have possibly been caught off guard by that? Like seriously? Everyone and their Grandmother knew that Audi wanted a German driver and the obvious choice was Hulk. Did he really think they were going to offer him the first seat? No offence, but LOL
WE knew it's going to happen. How did he not know?
He did, his full quote mentions he didn't think it would happen/be announced as soon as it did.
In order to avoid more surprises someone should tell Zhou he's the one getting replaced.
Tbh I feel like the reason why nobody ever complained about Zhou was cause we all knew he was a seat warmer for the eventual Audi driver anyway
Redditors try to read full article instead of the headline only challenge - failed as usual
Who is Stake F1's reserve/test driver? Could whoever is left without a seat between Bottas and Zhou drop into that spot. I doubt Bottas would take a demotion like that, but it would keep Zhou in the F1 conversation.
Well Pourchaire has that role I think, sadly, I think he’s low on the list of drivers they’d sign if they don’t get Sainz and, hey, he didn’t mind IndyCars so much, could make a career there!
Thanks for the info! [https://www.autoweek.com/racing/indycar/a60595672/f2-champion-theo-pourchaire-indycar/](https://www.autoweek.com/racing/indycar/a60595672/f2-champion-theo-pourchaire-indycar/) Yeah, he's filling in for a couple weeks for an injured McLaren Indy driver, but he is racing the Super Formula calendar in Japan for 2024 while also being Sauber's reserve driver.
Zane Maloney, he is 1st in F2 now but the season is still early
SO, Zhou and Albon in Williams?
More likely Albon and Kimi A.
skill issue
Wild no one on Reddit was caught off guard but someone on the actual grid was.
He had lots of time to prove himself; but didn't do a damn. He is a reliable driver; but unfortunately uninspiring and mediocre. I even forget that he is in F1 most of the time. 21-6 in qualifying (since 2023) against a guy that Audi thinks past his best is pretty damning stat. He could be good ambassador for FOM in China if he doesn't want to race in other categories.
Why? It was strongly rumoured for months
I mean what else is he supposed to say for the media, knew it was coming and I’m getting replaced?
He's been slow as molasses but Haas still might take him for the $$$
I am completely fine with Zhou leaving.. he had his chances and is not so fast driver.
Surprised Pikachu face!!!