Zhou hits out at 'stupid, disrespectful rumours' over F1 future

Zhou Guanyu has responded to media rumours he deems "stupid" and "disrespectful".

Speaking exclusively to RacingNews365, the 25-year-old highlighted the speculation around his financial backing, joking that he wished had the numbers reported as it would solve his seat issue.

The Stake driver is without a contract for next season. His only realistic chances of staying in F1 are tied to who Audi and Alpine.

At his current home, it comes down to who the team opts to place alongside Nico Hulkenberg, with team-mate Valtteri Bottas also out of a drive at the moment.

Jack Doohan is believed to be favourite to partner Pierre Gasly at Team Enstone, and both Liam Lawson and Gabriel Bortoleto are providing further competition for the Stake seat.

Zhou was also closely linked to Kevin Magnussen's Haas drive, but the American team landed on Esteban Ocon - something he alludes to when addressing the speculation surrounding his future.

"Firstly, there's a lot of stupid rumours from media," the Chinese driver states.

"I heard some rumours in the past, and it's the first time I'm speaking to someone [about it], just because I want to say it clear, is that people say like: 'I don't know how much money I'm bringing', '[I'm] speaking to one of the teams', not here [at Stake], but I'm not gonna mention which team, they just announced the driver departure. 

"What I mean is that I barely spoke to them in that period, but it [rumours] just come up with the amount of sponsor money I could bring to the table - I wish I had that, maybe I can invest together in Sauber and make a benefit of it.

"Just a lot of rumours on that side, which is quite funny to see that, but in another way it's a bit disrespectful saying that.

After two consistent, if unspectacular, years to open his F1 career in 2022 and 2023, Zhou has comparatively struggled this term.

His P11 finish in the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix remains his - and his team's - best finish in a full-distance race and he is therefore ahead of Bottas in the drivers' standings.

However, there has been a clear delta between the two drivers, particularly on one-lap pace. When put head-to-head in grand prix qualifying, the Finnish driver has out-performed Zhou 13-1.

Not since the Chinese sprint has the 25-year-old looked close to scoring points, when he finished ninth, narrowly missing out on what would have been Stake's first and only point of the season thus far.

Despite the meagre returns, Zhou is fixed on proving what he can do in the hope it will translate into a fourth season in F1.

"On the other side, Graeme [Lowdon, part of Zhou's management team] and me are working hard on myself on track to show what I am capable of doing that, and himself looking at the few options still available on the table," he explains.