The first-ever Chinese Formula 1 driver, Zhou Guanyu debuted in 2022 with Alfa Romeo (now Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber) after his performance in the F2 Championship, where he secured third place; he replaced Antonio Giovinazzi at the Swiss team. Alfa Romeo had high hopes with Zhou, as he posed high potential to compete against the sport’s top contenders.
But unfortunately, Guanyu has neither held a pole position, or a podium nor won a single Grand Prix race since his debut in the sport. He currently sits eighteenth on the drivers’ point table. He might be on the verge of losing his seat in 2025.
Ever since Nico Hulkenberg announced his exit from Haas, and Kevin Magnussen’s uncertain future in the same, Zhou Guanyu has emerged as a possible candidate for replacing Magnussen, as Briton, Ollie Bearman is still the first choice as a replacement for Hulkenberg.
David Croft believes Kevin Magnussen is a better option for Haas than Zhou Guanyu
Nico Hulkenberg is set to return to Kick Sauber ahead of Audi’s highly anticipated 2026 entry. Ferrari junior Ollie Bearman is largely being considered as the replacement for Hulkenberg, Haas has two vacant seats if Magnussen is released as his performance has deteriorated since his return to F1 in 2022.
Sky Sports F1 commentator and pundit David Croft has a contrasting opinion. When asked for his thoughts on Zhou Guanyu’s possible entry to Haas he said, “Does Zhou get you better than Kevin Magnussen? Potentially, but I think Magnussen is a known, safe pair of hands in that respect.”
Croft further says that there might be the possibility of Haas replacing Magnussen, but at the same time, they must remember Magnussen works well with the team, works very well with their sponsors, and to the sponsors, he is a remarkable driver.
Magnussen has shown glimpses of brilliance in the ongoing season, “not least in Jeddah with that amazing drive for the team itself – so I think he’s doing his bit for the team and it would be unlucky if Magnussen was to lose his seat at the end of the year,” says Croft.
A DAY TO REMEMBER FOREVER. 🇨🇳
What can I say… This crowd, this weekend has been unforgettable, thank you everyone for making it so special to me, loved every second of it. ❤️🏎️#ChineseGP #TeamZHOU pic.twitter.com/cxADU1F92N
— 周冠宇 | Zhou Guanyu 🇨🇳 (@ZhouGuanyu24) April 22, 2024
The packed grandstands in Shanghai, Croft argued was a sign of Zhou’s popularity in his home country, but that should not be enough to secure him a seat on the F1 2025 grid, conceding that there is no obvious next step for the 24-year-old if he quits Sauber. Croft doesn’t think that teams should keep a driver in a sport just because the popularity of the driver is such that it guarantees a full house at the Grand Prix.
Can Haas successfully maintain their competitiveness throughout 2024?
Haas is the youngest team on the grid which debuted in 2016, with Romain Grosjean and Estaban Gutierrez as their drivers. But compared to other teams, Haas has always been on a back foot due to poor upgrades, slow pitstops, and above all subpar cars, which never gave the drivers any advantage in the races.
From 2016 to 2023, Haas has ranked below five in the contest for the Constructor’s title, being far away from contenders. In 2023, former Haas boss Guenther Steiner oversaw the season as “Haas’ downward trend since fifth in 2018 continues.”
But compared to the previous editions of Formula 1, Haas seems to know what they’re doing and why they’re here in the sport. Nico Hulkenberg could bag 6 points this season while Kevin Magnussen secured just 1 point; they are thirteenth and sixteenth respectively, on the drivers’ point table. With a combined score of 7, Haas now stands seventh on the Constructors’ table.
Hulkenberg is performing a pivotal role for Haas in 2024, while Magnussen is trying his level best to provide the backup for the team hold his position throughout the races, and secure at least 1 point for the team.
A DAY TO REMEMBER FOREVER. 🇨🇳
What can I say… This crowd, this weekend has been unforgettable, thank you everyone for making it so special to me, loved every second of it. ❤️🏎️#ChineseGP #TeamZHOU pic.twitter.com/cxADU1F92N
— 周冠宇 | Zhou Guanyu 🇨🇳 (@ZhouGuanyu24) April 22, 2024
In a car as subpar as theirs, both drivers have demonstrated how much they appreciate their Formula 1 position and how eager they are to contribute to Haas, despite the problems.
Team Principal Ayao Komatsu is optimistic about the team’s improvement, as his galvanizing leadership is proving beneficial to the team’s performance which is reflected in the results. The cars are responding well to the developments as they had expected.
If the same performance continues, then Haas can cause trouble for the rest of the grid. Even if they fail to go up to the top spots, the drivers Nico Hulkenberg and Kevin Magnussen can cause trouble for those drivers who consistently drive in positions below ten.