Alfa Romeo gives the latest update on Zhou Guanyu’s contract extension ahead of the summer break

Audi's arrival in F1 sparks speculation about Valtteri Bottas' fate with Alfa Romeo.

Alfa Romeo gives the latest update on Zhou Guanyu’s contract extension ahead of the summer break

Alfa Romeo driver Guanyu Zhou (Image credit:

Valtteri Bottas secured a longer contract with Alfa Romeo, fulfilling his wish to stay with the team until 2025. However, it’s uncertain if he will be included in Audi’s plans when they join F1 in 2026 through a partnership with Sauber. Meanwhile, Bottas’ teammate Zhou Guanyu will continue with Alfa Romeo for another year after a promising debut in Formula 1.

Alfa Romeo team representative Alessandro Alunni Bravi mentioned that there would be time after the summer shutdown to sit down with Zhou and consider the best solution for both drivers. He stated that their goal is to retain both drivers in their team next year but emphasized that all necessary elements must be in place to achieve a win-win situation.

YouTube video

“There will be time after the summer shutdown to sit down with Zhou and to look at what will be the best solution for both of us. Our target is to keep both drivers in our team next year, but of course all elements must be in place to have a win-win situation,” Bravi told The Race.

FS Video

Also read: “What on earth is this”- Fans react as Alfa Romeo reveals a special livery in partnership with gambling streaming service KICK for the Belgian GP

Alfa Romeo faces challenges in sustaining success

Guanyu Zhou at the 2023 Hunagrian Grand Prix (Image credit: Stellantis)

Alfa Romeo’s title partnership with the Swiss team is ending this season, paving the way for their gradual transition into a full-works Audi entry. Last season, Alfa Romeo experienced a notable resurgence when the technical regulations were overhauled, amassing an impressive 51 points in the first nine races.

 However, their performance declined in the subsequent races, adding only four more points to their tally for the entire campaign. Unfortunately, this downward trend has persisted into the current season. Despite the efforts of drivers Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu, they have secured just nine points between them, leaving Alfa Romeo in the ninth position in the standings, with only AlphaTauri below them.

The Alfa-Romeo Sauber team is set to become a works outfit with the entry of Audi into Formula 1. The Ingolstadt-based manufacturer has already been making waves in the media, attracting attention by recruiting essential personnel and actively searching for drivers to form their lineup. This transition promises to be an exciting development for both teams and fans. It opens up new possibilities and challenges in the highly competitive world of Formula 1.

In case you missed it: