Zhou details F1 factors that support his case to retain seat

Zhou Guanyu believes more than just results will count when determining his future in F1, suggesting that those in the paddock look at more than just the drivers' standings.

The 25-year-old argues that conduct and communication also matter to teams, in an exclusive interview with RacingNews365.

In his third season in F1, the Chinese driver is without a drive for next year and his chances of staying in the series have been reduced to his current employer, Stake, and Alpine, where he was formerly part of the junior programme.

It has been a difficult campaign for Zhou. Whilst he leads Valtteri Bottas in the drivers' championship, neither has scored a point so far. With only 10 of the 24 rounds left to run, he is running out of opportunities to secure his future.

Despite the drivers' standings, which Zhou is ahead in on account to a P11 finish at the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix, he has been out-matched by his team-mate so far this term.

To make matters worse, Bottas is also without a seat for 2025, and could prove to be not only his closest, but also his toughest competition to stay at the team alongside incoming Nico Hulkenberg.

However, Zhou knows that there is more to proving his worthy and securing a new contract in F1 than simple results.

"I think if you are a team or a person who's working in the paddock, you're not just watching the table," he contends.

"The audience, the fans are watching the results [in] black and white, but people here, they're monitoring, they listen to the communication, they listen to the dedication to team spirit you have together with your team-mate. I think all these things count."

Unfortunately for Zhou, to further muddy the waters, there are a number of junior drivers breaking through.

In the case of Alpine, reserve driver Jack Doohan is in the prime position to partner Pierre Gasly next year.

Meanwhile, at Stake, Liam Lawson and F2 driver Gabriel Bortoleto are also in the mix.

Despite this, Zhou feels his experience gives him an upper hand agains the emerging talent, even if results have not been what they could be.

"Of course, this season with the result [Stake has had], it makes things extra hard for us, but it's still not over," he says.

"And I do feel there's still a possibility and chances to go ahead [and stay in F1].

"From my side, I think I am winning with my experience, with my knowledge... to show what I can do, and I feel like this season, I couldn't really show what I really could do.

"There's a few races where we were there, but in the end, some issues we had, and then we didn't deliver the results unfortunately."