Valtteri Bottas and Guanyu Zhou will not drive in F1 in 2025

It's now official, Valtteri Bottas and Guanyu Zhou will leave Sauber at the end of the year.

Bottas and Zhou say goodbye.

Bottas, who joined Sauber after five seasons at Mercedes, made an immediate impact in 2022, contributing to the team's sixth place in the championship. His experience and technical knowledge have been crucial to the team, although the journey has been fraught with obstacles.

Upon announcing his departure, the Finn did not fail to express his gratitude towards the team, while explaining the reasons for this separation: « A situation like this is never easy for anyone. But after all the good in-depth discussions we have had in recent weeks, we realized that the conditions to evolve this project together were not met. These last years with the team have been an incredible journey, filled with growth, challenges, and unforgettable moments. I am grateful for the shared experiences, as well as for the trust and support I felt at every step. Although it is time to move on, I will always keep a part of this team with me, and I look forward to see what the future holds for all of us.

In parallel, Guanyu Zhou, the first Chinese driver in F1, will also end his adventure at Sauber at the end of the 2024 season. Arriving as a rookie in 2022, he immediately made an impact by scoring points in his first race and offering the team one of its best seasons in a decade. A perfect partner for Bottas, Zhou has managed to combine passion and determination, bringing a breath of fresh air and a youthful dynamic to the team.

One of the highlights of his time at Sauber will undoubtedly be his home Grand Prix in China in 2024. Zhou, in front of an electrified crowd, delivered a remarkable performance, fighting until the last corner to try to secure points in the main race.

The Chinese driver also thanked the team for the trust that was given to him: « I will leave the team at the end of the season, but I am fully committed to finishing the season on a high note. I am grateful to the team for giving me a chance in Formula 1: it's not an easy sport for rookies, but the team has allowed me to grow enormously over these three years. China, earlier this season, was undoubtedly a highlight, but so many moments, both in public and in private, are the ones I will remember from the last three years. I will now focus on the next step of my career: I still have a lot of fight in me and I am looking forward to continuing to progress. »

Binotto's thanks

Mattia Binotto, operations director and technical director of Sauber, wanted to thank the two men for their commitment within the team: "These last three years have seen our team grow significantly on and off the track, and both Valtteri and Zhou have played an important role in this progression."

We extend our sincerest thanks to Valtteri for these three years spent together. He embodied professionalism, leveraging his extensive experience to support the team's growth. Valtteri's dedication and approach have been invaluable during a pivotal period in our history, and the memories of these years will stay with us for a long time.

We are also grateful to Zhou for these three years, for the commitment and determination he has shown from the first moment he drove for us until today. Scoring points from the beginning and helping the team reach sixth place in 2022 was a statement of intent, but his contribution off the track and at the factory was just as important.

With three races left this season, Sauber and its drivers will look to close this chapter on a positive note.