Guanyu Zhou is working to ensure his Formula 1 career does not end after losing his race seat at Sauber.
Following a challenging 2024 season, Audi-owned Sauber opted not to renew the contracts of Zhou and his teammate Valtteri Bottas.
Now, Zhou—the first Chinese driver in F1 history—is exploring ways to remain involved in the sport, potentially as a reserve driver.
Zhou has already been linked with Ferrari, but the Italian team denied any plans to sign him. More recently, speculation has surfaced about a possible role at Red Bull, with support from Zhou's influential Chinese sponsors potentially funding a TPC (Testing of Previous Cars) program.
"Up to now," explained journalist Michael Schmidt at Auto Motor und Sport, "the Red Bull teams have held back on testing old Formula 1 cars because Honda demands a lot of money for the provision of engines and personnel."
Zhou, 25, could also offer valuable experience as a reserve driver for Red Bull and Racing Bulls, particularly given that the brand's in-house reserve option, 17-year-old Arvid Lindblad, is still highly inexperienced.
"Zhou would have experience, but he is not the brightest star in the Formula 1 world," Schmidt commented. "(Franco) Colapinto would have been the best choice, but Williams was asking too much for a full release of the man from Buenos Aires."
Zhou himself remains optimistic about returning to the grid in the near future.
"I have decided not to race in another series this year because there are so many doors in F1 that could be open, not only in 2025 but also in 2026," Zhou told Formula Rapida. "I want to make sure that if there is an opportunity, I can be there. If there is an opportunity, I definitely want to be back on the grid."
Meanwhile, former Haas driver Kevin Magnussen will make his debut with BMW at the Daytona 24 Hours this weekend. According to Schmidt, Magnussen will also play a role in Haas' new Toyota-backed TPC program in 2025, serving as a reference driver for younger talent.
