(Motorsports news) While Bottas’ continued wearing of the Swiss attire was merely a formality, Zhou had raised some eyebrows. The Chinese driver has since signed on for a third season with the team, which is anticipated to resume using the Sauber moniker for the following two seasons before making the full switch to the Audi moniker in 2026.
Theo Pourchaire will continue to act as the reserve and simulator driver for the FIA F2 championship. Alessandro Alunni Bravi, a team official, said, “The choice to continue our journey with an intact driver lineup is testament to the commitment we have made in our project.
“Nothing in Formula One changes overnight, so we have made the strategic choice to concentrate on stability and to continue strengthening our team as we enter a crucial period of change. “Valtteri and Zhou are well-known drivers with talent and expertise, and they get along great. They complement one other well and can push one another.
“Valtteri has assumed a real leadership position within the team, encouraging us all to put out our best effort. Zhou has advanced significantly over the past two years, and we anticipate that he will keep making progress in 2024. “Now the ball is back in our court; we must provide both drivers with excellent vehicles and the most conducive environments for success.”
With Zhou’s confirmation, he will finally have the opportunity to compete in his native country in 2019 after COVID forced the Shanghai tournament to be postponed from 2020 to 2023. Returning to the squad is always a nice feeling, he remarked, especially knowing how things are going. “I am grateful for Alfa Romeo’s trust and happy to be a part of the company.
“I have been working really hard from the beginning, and I am extremely motivated to continue doing so going forward. “My friendship with Valtteri is great, and we collaborate closely to move the team and each other ahead. The chance to compete with my squad in China in front of my home fans also excites me greatly. It will be a wonderful occasion, and I’m honored to be able to share it with everyone who has helped me.
Even though the team has had trouble keeping its performance on track this year, Bottas emphasized that the team is still making solid progress. I am glad and grateful to be able to look forward to 2024 knowing how the team is shaping up because I have a sense we have a fantastic path ahead of us, the Finn added.
“Our team has a fantastic vibe; I get along with Zhou, and we both push each other to get better. There is a remarkable amount of work being done in the background, both in Hinwil and elsewhere, and now that the lineup for the following year has been decided, we can totally concentrate on getting better, beginning this weekend in Singapore.
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