P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Former F1 drivers turned pundits Damon Hill and Karun Chandhok have advocated on behalf of Zhou Guanyu being offered a new contract to stay in F1 – on commercial grounds.
Zhou Guanyu participated in his first home race in F1 during the recent Chinese Grand Prix, with Damon Hill and Karun Chandhok advocating for his continued presence in the sport. Despite uncertainties surrounding his F1 future, including Nico Hulkenberg’s potential move to Audi, the pundits emphasized Zhou’s commercial value, especially given the success of the event at the Shanghai International Circuit. Both Hill and Chandhok believe that Zhou should not miss out on future opportunities to compete in F1 in front of his home crowd, urging him to secure a contract promptly. Audi’s pursuit of Hulkenberg and Carlos Sainz could potentially leave Zhou and his teammate Valtteri Bottas seeking new racing opportunities, prompting support from Chandhok for Zhou to find a place on the grid. As discussions around Zhou’s future in F1 intensify, there is a sense of urgency for him to secure a seat amidst the evolving landscape of the sport.
