The 2024 season proved to be particularly difficult for Guanyu Zhou, Chinese driver of the Stake F1 Team. Despite his efforts, in two and a half years of competing in Formula 1, Zhou has collected just 12 points. A result that compares negatively with the 59 points achieved by his teammate, Valtteri Bottas, in the same period. The Swiss team, which will be officially absorbed by Audi from 2026, is currently the only one to have not yet scored a single point in the standings this year. This made Zhou's tenure in 2025 uncertain. While some seats for next season have already been assigned, Zhou is still waiting to know if there will be room for him in the future of F1, also considering the latest important arrivals such as that of Oliver Bearman.
During an interview given to The Race Zhou expressed his frustration at the lack of certainty regarding his future in racing. The pilot Chinese he also directed criticism at the driver selection system in Formula 1, raising a sensitive and personal issue. The Chinese pilot has in fact highlighted the unequal treatment that, according to him, exists towards pilots from certain geographical areas. Zhou recalled his difficult debut in Formula 1 in 2021. When his signing with Alfa Romeo was met with numerous criticisms, many of which, he said, were full of racist prejudice.
The criticism of Bearman's arrival and the outburst against haters
Zhou then underlined how his entry into the category had been questioned despite his impressive CV in Formula 2, where he achieved four victories and a third place finish in the championship. “In 2021, when I signed with Alfa Romeo, I received many racist insults from people who had not followed my career. I had finished third in F2 winning four races, while now a driver outside the top 10 will have a seat in F1, surrounded by great support. This shows that nationality biases are real.”
Zhou's dig is aimed in particular at Oliver Bearman. Bearman is one of the new faces of F1 who, despite failing to break into the top 10 of the Formula 2 championship, has already secured a place on the Haas grid for 2025. Bearman's entry into Formula 1 was met with enthusiasm and support from the community. A welcome that Zhou did not feel when he entered the category.
