Jacques Villeneuve has taken aim at Sauber’s Zhou Guanyu, the always outspoken F1 world champion suggesting that the Chinese driver only owes his presence on the grid to his “big luggage of cash”.
Zhou made his F1 debut with Sauber in 2022 and has since scored six top-ten finishes, claiming a career best of 8th at the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal during his rookie campaign in the sport.
So far this year, the 25-year-old has been outqualified by his Sauber teammate Valtteri Bottas at every single race with the exception of the British Grand Prix at Silverstone, while neither driver has scored a championship point in 2024.
As far as Villeneuve is concerned, Zhou, who does not hold a contract for 2025, does not merit a spot on the Formula 1 grid based on his current performances.
“Guanyu Zhou has a big luggage of cash in his sponsors that he needs to put somewhere, whether that’s as an F1 driver or a reserve driver,” Villeneuve told Instant Casino.
“Based on the results, Zhou doesn’t deserve a seat in F1.”
The influx of sponsorship money from Zhou’s backers is an undeniable asset to any team, especially one like Sauber, which has struggled to remain competitive.
However, Villeneuve believes that financial contributions should not outweigh performance.
“If a team can get all that sponsorship money that Zhou brings with him, even as a reserve drive, then it’s a great result for them.”
©Sauber
As Zhou’s contract with Sauber comes to an end this season, his future in F1 hangs in the balance.
The Chinese driver is actively exploring his options to stay on the grid, with Sauber – which will soon transition into Audi – among his potential destinations.
Zhou’s previous ties to Alpine, where he served as a junior driver, also present a possible avenue for his continuation in the sport.
In contrast to Villeneuve’s blunt criticism, Zhou remains focused on securing his place in F1.
Prior to the summer break, and before it was announced that Carlos Sainz would move to Williams, Zhou expressed his desire to stay in the sport, though he acknowledged the uncertainty surrounding his future.
©Sauber
“I want to stay here, that’s very clear,” Zhou told the media. “But of course we’re talking to different options, as well as with Sauber. Nothing’s been decided.
“It’s very easy to say we are all waiting for Carlos to decide at the end of the day, but hopefully he can make his decision sooner and then I think that will turn around a lot the driver market.
“But before that, I think the guys who still haven’t signed [can’t] really give any clear answer. We’re talking and there’s options, but we need to wait and see.”
As the F1 season progresses, Zhou Guanyu faces a pivotal moment in his career, with Jacques Villeneuve’s harsh critique echoing the challenges that lie ahead.
Whether Zhou will secure a seat for 2025 remains to be seen, but one thing is clear—his results will need to speak louder than his financial backing if he is to silence his critics.
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