If in Canada Guanyu Zhou showed the last result in qualifying, then in Spain he was already 15th, and in Austria the Chinese Sauber driver was asked what explains this difference, and whether it can be said that the team has made any significant progress know how to book.
Guanyu Zhou: “It seems to me that the main difference is related to the chassis. From Imola we used a new chassis and of course we wanted to understand together with the team how the car would perform on circuits with such different configurations.
In Imola, Monaco and Montreal the asphalt surface is very uneven and I think this only adds to the problems as this year’s car cannot handle it well. In Canada I really couldn’t attack well and I was at a loss: everything I did only worsened my balance, and it became even more difficult to drive.
So in Spain we decided to go back to the old chassis and it seemed there were some improvements, especially more grip, and I could drive with more confidence. I am very happy that we have gone in the right direction and I also think that the circuits on which we have to compete now suit our car a little better.
Cars of this generation are very sensitive to any changes, and in my case the problems were related to the fact that when I tried to attack on tracks with uneven surfaces, it led to a sharp destabilization of the C44. On such tracks it was very difficult for me to gain confidence behind the wheel of the car, especially during braking and cornering – these were the main difficulties.
It seems that we have to continue to investigate the reasons for the problems that plagued us in previous races, but it is already clear that we have managed to return to the previous level, and this is very encouraging.”
When asked about his plans for 2025, Zhou replied: “Of course I want to stay in Formula 1. Of course we are exploring various options, including negotiations with Sauber, but we have not made a decision yet.
It’s easy to say that we are all waiting for the decision that Carlos Sainz will make, and we hope that it will happen soon. I think that after this the picture on the driver market will become much clearer, but for the time being all drivers who have not yet signed a contract cannot give a clear answer. Negotiations are ongoing, all possible options are being analyzed, but for now we have to wait and monitor developments.”
Source: F1 News
I am Christopher Clyde, an experienced journalist and content writer with a passion for sports. I have been writing about Formula 1 news for the past five years and am currently employed as an author at athletistic.com, one of the top sports websites in the US.
