Zhou: Very keen on staying where I am

Zhou became the first Chinese F1 driver when he joined Alfa Romeo back in 2022 after finishing third in the 2021 Formula 2 Championship.

In F1, the Chinese driver have been solid qualifying three times in the top ten on his rookie season, scoring points also three times, notably in his firs race in Bahrain in 2022 where he finished tenth on debut.

But 2023 has been a more difficult affair for the Chinese driver, as the Alfa Romeo at his disposal is only better than the woeful AlphaTauri, but he managed to score points twice and is only two points behind his race-winning teammate Valtteri Bottas in the 2023 F1 Drivers' Standings in 16th, the Finn 15th.

With Zhou not yet securing a deal beyond the current season, there has been speculation that he may be on his way out of F1, especially as he lacks considerable financial backing, not to mention the changes going on within Alfa Romeo as they evolve into becoming Audi's F1 works' team in 2026, while Theo Pourchaire, the team's junior driver is doing very well in F2 in 2023 and naturally targeting an F1 seat.

But Zhou remains calm and confident about his F1 future, he told Motorsport.com: "It's a little bit [more] delayed than I expected. But I think it’s just due to me, together with Alfa Romeo, trying to figure out these final details.

"In terms of, let's say, ‘Why don't you sign?’ I still have no answer to that. But we're definitely talking more into that and getting more close to being done.

"I'm happy to be together, spending more and more years together with this team. The future is bright for where the team is heading," Zhou maintained.

As for the rumours regarding his lack of financial backing, the Alfa Romeo driver commented: "I have personal sponsors and I don't know the rumours, but I don't feel I'm lacking any foundations on that side.

"It's not like the first contract you have in Formula 1 - everything's up to the team. The second one is a bit more into details," he explained. "Nothing to be worried about majorly. I don't feel like what I show on track doesn't deserve to continue being in this paddock."

With seats still open at Williams (Logan Sargeant) and both drivers at AlphaTauri still not confirmed, Zhou was asked if he is looking beyond his current team for an F1 seat in 2024.

"At the minute [Alfa] is the priority. There's not a lot of seats that's available. I'm very keen on staying where I am," he insisted.