A second Formula 1 team has entered the race to secure Guanyu Zhou's services in 2025.
The Chinese, who, like Valtteri Bottas, will contest his last Grand Prix for Sauber in Abu Dhabi, revealed in Qatar that Ferrari was “very interested” by his commitment as a reserve driver for next season.
However, he also suggested that other teams were interested. And the biggest of them is Red Bull.
Red Bull is particularly interested in the Chinese commercial support, estimated at tens of millions per year, that Zhou can provide.
Zhou's money would then help fund a new “TPC” testing program for Red Bull – TPC standing for “Testing of Previous Cars”. The regulations allow F1 teams to carry out on-track testing, but only if the cars are at least two years old.
Red Bull wants to prepare a Red Bull Racing with 2023 specifications. The team has so far given up on organizing a TPC program “because Honda charges a considerable amount for the use of its engines.”
But the competition showed that this preparation for junior drivers has become essential.
In order to finance the tests, Red Bull is in talks with Guanyu Zhou, who dreams of returning to the Formula 1 train in 2026. The Chinese driver can stay fit thanks to the TPC tests and would also be named official reserve driver for both teams, Red Bull Racing and Racing Bulls, which would also simplify things.
Red Bull is also reportedly using the new TPC program to run its junior Arvid Lindblad, a 17-year-old who is moving from Formula 3 to Formula 2 next year.
