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But why would Audi want to keep him? He’s only slightly better than Zhou but without the potential to promote the Audi brand in China.
Audi wants a German driver. It would easier to replace Zhou when they take control.
Why is it easier to replace Zhou than Bottas?
Bottas is an experienced driver and proven product. If you wanted to benchmark a car’s performance you would choose his opinion over Zhou.
By 2026 so is Zhou.
It’s different though. Zhou is a good driver, and by 26 will have sone experience, but mostly developing a middling F1 car at best.
Bottas is also good, perhaps has less potential as a driver given his age, but he’s experienced the development of some of the most dominant championship winning cars ever. Bottas has demonstrated great single lap pace in those cars, and knows what those last tenths feel like.
Not saying they should or will keep Bottas, but it’s not out of the question. Simple fact remains that he will need to beat his teammates during the coming years though.
It will be a vastly different car in 2026, so I don’t think his experience will be as important anymore
Chinese customers are not interested in overpriced German cars. Their regional suppliers offer design copies for way less. Volkswagen has dropped prices so much, that the same car in Europe costs like 30% more. Helps that they build them in china too. Audi Motorsport, or Quattro as a brand is in no man’s land in china anyway. Bottas driving a shitbox. If you’d put Zhou in the second Red Bull he would perform like every other race driver in that seat, bar his mental health limiting his confidence. These drivers are within margin the same but limited to their teams, machinery and confidence.
You’re making a case for why making them interested in overpriced cars is a good idea. F1 is advertising and that’s never about explaining what people need but what they think they need.
Maybe that’s why chinese customers buy apple.
Honestly this is the best way to proceed. No one from other teams is beating down Valterri’s door. And F1 pays well plus he’s set himself up in quite a few other businesses such as merchandise, coffee, vodka and others.
If he stays at Dauber it’s a safe seat, he’s beating his teammate and he can look forward to further good pay.
Plus, if Audi comes in strong he may find himself in a title contending car.
Win win.
To be fair, he has been in a title contending car for 5 years. He just had a bit of bad luck with who his teammate was at the time.
