Axed F1 driver in agreement with Lewis Hamilton hours after being sacked

Zhou Guanyu has expressed agreement with Lewis Hamilton on a sentiment shared about former teammate Valtteri Bottas, shortly after Zhou was dropped by the F1 team Stake, previously known as Alfa Romeo Sauber. Both Zhou and Bottas will leave the team at the end of the 2024 season, as Stake plans a fresh driver lineup starting next year. The changes will see Nico Hulkenberg moving from Haas to lead the team in 2025, partnered with Gabriel Bortoleto, the current leader of the Formula Two standings. These moves mark Stake’s preparation for its transformation into the Audi works team in 2026.

In a heartfelt social media post, Zhou reflected on his partnership with Bottas, sharing a message of appreciation that echoed Hamilton’s own words for Bottas when he left Mercedes in 2021. Zhou’s Instagram post read, “Loved every single moment we had, mate. Best team-mate ever.” Hamilton, in a similar gesture three years earlier, described Bottas as the best teammate he could have hoped for, when Bottas left Mercedes after five years with the Silver Arrows.

Hamilton’s tribute to Bottas was a highlight of their close relationship, which continued even after Bottas moved to Alfa Romeo. The two had worked alongside each other from 2017 to 2021, securing four Constructors’ Championships for Mercedes. In a farewell message on X (formerly Twitter), Hamilton praised Bottas, saying, “I’m immensely proud to have worked alongside Valtteri for the last five years. Together, we’ve been part of a team that has delivered four Constructors’ Championships and we’ve motivated one another to keep pushing through the ups and the downs.” He called Bottas “the best team-mate I’ve had the pleasure of working with,” and admired not only his speed and resilience but his character, calling him “a gentleman” and noting his standout qualities as a human being. Hamilton closed his post with hopes for Bottas’s bright future and gratitude for his contributions to the team.

Now, Bottas faces the question of his next move within Formula 1. The Finnish driver has been rumored to potentially rejoin Mercedes, this time as a reserve and development driver. This role would allow him to support the current drivers, George Russell and Kimi Antonelli, and bring his experience back to a team where he had much success. Though not confirmed, Bottas hinted at already having new opportunities in the works. “When one door closes, another one opens,” he stated on Wednesday, adding that he was “actually very excited for the future and what’s next.”

For Stake, Bottas’s departure marks the end of a chapter, as the team begins to gear up for a long-awaited rebrand under Audi’s name in 2026. Audi’s entry into Formula 1 is expected to bring a wave of investment and engineering resources, and the new driver lineup reflects the brand’s desire for a fresh start. Nico Hulkenberg, currently racing with Haas, will bring years of experience to lead the team, while Gabriel Bortoleto represents promising young talent from the Formula Two ranks.

As for Zhou, he shared nothing but positive sentiments about his time with Stake and his partnership with Bottas. The praise reflects the respect the two have developed as teammates, even through the challenges and intense competition of F1 racing. With both drivers moving on, fans and analysts alike will be watching to see where Bottas and Zhou end up and how their careers continue in the constantly shifting landscape of Formula 1. The changes at Stake, paired with Audi’s highly anticipated 2026 debut, promise to bring fresh energy and fierce competition to the grid, while drivers like Bottas and Zhou will be looking to make an impact wherever they go next.