Zhou: I trust my team to improve on last year

Alfa Romeo struggled through much of 2023, scoring just 16 points and slumping to ninth in the Formula 1 Constructors' Standings. This was significantly worse than their 2022 campaign, where they ended as the sixth-best team on 55 points.

Now renamed as Stake F1 Team, driver Zhou expects his employers to deliver a better car and score more than the six he managed last year.

Speaking on Autosport's Chinese sister site, the 24-year-old reported on the progress with the Hinwil-based outfit's 2024 challenger, the C44. He said: "The trends in the development so far are still in line with what we have been expecting.

"Hopefully the pre-season preparation, including the three days of testing, will allow us to set a better direction for the whole season. I have my trust in the team and feel that this year we can get back to the performance level we had in my first season," he reckoned.

Aware of the issues experienced with the outgoing C43 car, Zhou anticipates that these will be ironed out of the C44.

He continued: "In low temperatures or when the track had less grip, we often had less margin to improve in terms of tyre temperatures than other teams, so we couldn’t deliver the performance in the first and second sector.

"Secondly, there were some uncertainties with the car, such as correcting in the corners more frequently than in the 2022 season, with some unexpected oversteer or understeer. These are things that we have given feedback to James [Key]," he revealed.

It remains to be seen whether or not the newly-rebranded Stake F1 Team will climb up the grid when the first race gets underway at the Bahrain International Circuit on March 2nd.

Along with the recent rebranding, the Sauber group have undergone various changes in recent times with a view to become Championship contenders in the future.

German auto manufacturer Audi confirmed their partnership with Sauber Group back in 2022, and will become the Audi factory team from the 2026 season onwards using an Audi-developed power unit.

This was followed by former McLaren Team Principal Andreas Seidl switching to lead the Swiss outfit, and Technical Director James Key also switching to Sauber from the Woking-based team.

The upcoming Kick Sauber C44 will be the first Sauber designed and overseen by Key, with the grand reveal set for February 5th. This gives Zhou confidence that 2024 will be a better year for him and the team.

He said: "As the personnel at the team's headquarters, especially in the technical department, are constantly being added and adjusted, we hope to create a better and more complete team."

2024 will also see Zhou racing at his home race at the Shanghai International Circuit for the first time, after several years of cancellation due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

"I'm definitely happy to have my home race in Shanghai," Zhou stated. "I haven't raced or tested there, but to be able to do it at home makes me look forward to it.

"It was a little shame that I've been racing in F1 for the past two years [without the Chinese Grand Prix], but finally I can fulfil this little wish in 2024 to race in my hometown," he concluded.

Zhou finished the 2023 F1 season 18th in the Drivers' Standings with six points. Teammate Valtteri Bottas was 15th with 10 points.