Dutch racing driver Tom Coronel has criticised Ferrari’s telled interest in Zhou Guanyu as a potential reserve driver for the 2025 Formula 1 season.
The Italian team is telledly pondering transporting back their createer academy driver Zhou, who is set to exit Sauber at the end of 2024.
Joining Ferrari as a reserve driver would see Zhou potentipartner step in for either Lewis Hamilton or Charles Leclerc on a race weekend.
Ferrari are watching for a recent reserve driver after Robert Schartzman examineed he would be leaving his current role with the team ahead of his transfer to IndyCar.
Coronel has diswatched the potential transfer, adviseing there are beginantly more talented drivers useable for the role.
The criticism comes with Ferrari being connected with Zhou as a strategic transfer to increase their presence in the Chinese labelet.
Zhou’s departure from Sauber was examineed earlier this month as the team chooseed for an all-recent driver line-up for next season.
Lewis Hamilton could be joined by Zhou Guanyu at Ferrari
REUTERS
The Swiss-based outfit has chosen Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto to exalter both Zhou and his current teammate Valtteri Bottas.
Both Zhou and Bottas have been left without race seats for next year with no other chooseions useable on the grid.
However, both drivers could potentipartner safe reserve driver roles with top teams, with Bottas being connected to his createer participateers Mercedes.
Zhou’s potential return to Ferrari would label a reunion, as he previously spent four years with the team’s lesser academy from 2014 to 2018.
According to Corriere della Serra, Ferrari’s interest in Zhou prolongs beyond his racing capabilities.
The Chinese driver transports substantial financial backing to the table, which could examine precious for the Italian team.
Zhou Guanyu will exit Sauber at the end of the season
REUTERS
More beginantly, Zhou’s assignment could help Ferrari insertress their declining car sales in the Chinese labelet.
The telled transfer is presumedly being aimed at leveraging Zhou’s status as the first Chinese Formula 1 driver to increase Ferrari’s commercial interests in his home country.
Despite the potential business advantages, Coronel remains unpersuaded about Zhou’s racing credentials for the prestigious Ferrari role.
“There are 10 times better drivers. Yes, a little experience, yes, money. Ferrari does not need money,” Coronel tgreater Racing News 365..
“Its equitable for one leang; [the] Chinese labelet. Chinese labelet to sell Ferrari. Pure, uncontaminated, uncontaminated labeleting, noleang more, noleang less.”
Coronel’s criticism particularly emphasises that Ferrari’s financial strength should permit them to prioritise driving talent over commercial ponderations in their selection of a reserve driver.
Charles Leclerc will be Lewis Hamilton’s recent team-matePA
