Valtteri Bottas relationship 'even better' as Zhou Guanyu discusses battle to save F1 seat

Zhou Guanyu believes that his relationship with Stake F1 Team colleague Valtteri Bottas is ‘even better’ than before, despite both drivers needing to fight for one remaining seat at the Hinwil-based outfit.

The Stake duo formed a close relationship during Zhou’s rookie season in 2022 with 10-time Grand Prix winner Bottas taking up the role of mentor. Since then, the pair have remained close allies with on-track squabbles non-existent. This is far from the case in several other teams on the grid. 2024, however, will be their final year as team-mates.

Nico Hulkenberg set the cat amongst the pigeons at Stake earlier this year when he was announced as one half of their 2025 driver line-up. With neither Zhou nor Bottas able to score a point so far this season and team bosses holding a strong interest in Carlos Sainz, their prospects of securing new terms look slim.

However, both have options elsewhere in the paddock. Bottas is a leading contender to replace Logan Sargeant at Williams, while Zhou is in talks with a number of parties, and recently explained that he is open to a reserve driver role should a full-time opportunity fail to materialise. The competition, however, has not affected their dynamic at Stake.

Speaking to Express Sport about the current state of his relationship with Bottas, Zhou said: “No actually. If anything I think we are still working in an even better way, just because the relationship doesn’t change due to where you are fighting for your future or if you’re departing into different places or teams.

“It’s coming purely because you have the respect by trusting each other and of course, sometimes we are giving up our position but then vice versa, we are changing and swapping position the next races. So we always earned a massive respect between me and Valtteri, and what’s great about it is that he helped me with a lot first year.

“But then once I’m there together in year two, we still really in trust each other because we knew if I sacrifice something for his race, at some point, he’s going to give it back to you, so that’s what you really earn for.”

Unfortunately for Zhou and Bottas, they will not know where their futures lie until Sainz makes a decision on his whereabouts. The Spaniard - first choice for his suitors - is weighing up contracts from Alpine, Stake and Williams and, in doing so, is preventing other drivers from making a move.