Sauber pair 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Valtteri Bottas and168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史: Zhou Guanyu served a timely reminder to their employer as they impressed in qualifying for the F1 Chinese Grand Prix sprint race.

With Audi coming onboard to takeover the Sauber-run operationꦇ ahead of the new regulation changes in 2026, the German manufacturer is in the process of picking the right driver line-up to take into F1♕’s new engine era.

Bottas and Zhou are out of contract at the end of the year and there has been speculation that both could be replaced for 2025, with Sauber/Audi heavily linked with several free agents including the likes of 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Carlos Sainz and 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Nico Hulkenberg.

With uncertainty lingering over their respective futures, a strong performance in q🐷ualifying for the first sprint race of the season came at the right time.

Sauber have endured a bleak start to 2024 and are one of three teams yet to scor🐠e a point across t🤪he opening four races of the season.

But the team enjoyed𒁃 a rare high point in Shanghai on Friday as Bottas and Zhou 🎐capitalised on changeable conditions in a chaotic qualifying to take ninth and 10th on the grid for Saturday’s sprint race.

It was a particularly impressive performance from Zhou in the face of immense pressure going into the weekend as the first-ever Chinese driver to race at their home 💯grand prix.

But the 24-year-old delighted his adori𝐆ng fans by sneaking into SQ3 and putting himself in a good position for the sprint, where points are a🅷warded to the top eight finishers.

“The pressure before the weekend was so ext๊reme,” Zhou admitted to Sky Sports F1. “I never felt it until the first race I did, my debut. Everyone is here to see you, so you want to do well. That’s whꦇen mistakes can happen.

“It’s a big relief. I am really happy 🌺for today. It’s a lot pressure, this weekend.

“There is a hi🌃gh expectation as always. My f🦩irst time at home, first day in the office, first time at the track.

“It’s great to be in [S]Q3 f✤or the fꦿirst time in my career.

“Every time, before I jump in the car, even in the garage, I can see the crowd cheer൲ing. I am honoured that I could give them some result and reward for coming here to sit in the rain.”

Zhou now has his sights set on a point, which could prove incredibly valuable for Saube♒r amid a brutal battle of the backmarkers for any scraps that might become available.

RB and Haas have take🙈n what little opportunities have emerged to date, but Sauber now have a chance to po🌱tentially pull themselves away from immediate rivals Williams and Alpine.

“A point is something we a🎃im for,” Zhou said. “If I want to score my first point of the season, I would pick Shanghai. There will be mixed conditions, let’s make the best of it, and prepare for Sunday’s main race.”

Sky Sports F1’s Karun Chandhok believes Zhou’s performance has come at a cri⛎tical time as he looks to extend his stay into a fourth season.

"The best way to make your case to stay in F🎉1, and stay with your team, is to keep delivering per🗹formances on track,” he said. “That is the most important thing.

“He did a great job in the ꧑dry session. He’s a little away from Valtteri Bottas, to be fair. It looks like the team have done a good job, the car🍷 is competitive.

ಞ“For someone going from ♎China to living in Sheffield, it is an amazing story.”