Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu will be leaving Sauber, soon to be Audi, at the end of the 2024 season, as confirmed by the team.

The Finnish veteran and the Chinese driver, who joined the team together in 2022, are closing out a challenging season that has seen their performance dip. While the two were initially considered to partner Nico Hulkenberg for 2025, Sauber's new boss, Mattia Binotto, is now looking at other driver options, including F2 title contender Gabriel Bortoleto and Mick Schumacher.

Bottas and Zhou's third season together has been disappointing, as the rebranded Stake car has yet to earn a single point. This dry spell marks the first point-less season in Bottas’s Formula 1 career, reflecting the difficulties both drivers and the team have faced this year.

With no seats available for either driver outside of Red Bull’s team not-confirmed lineup, Bottas and Zhou are unlikely to remain on the grid next season. Bottas is reportedly eyeing a potential return to Mercedes as a reserve driver, while Zhou’s plans remain uncertain.

Bottas said: “A situation like this is never easy for anyone but after all the good and in-depth discussions we had in the past weeks, we realised that the conditions to grow this project together were not met.

“These past years with the team have been an incredible journey, full of growth, challenges, and unforgettable moments.

“I’m grateful for the joint experiences as well as the trust and support I’ve felt every step of the way.

“Though it’s time to move on, I’ll always carry a piece of this team with me, and I look forward to seeing what the future holds for us both.”

Zhou said: “I will leave the team at the end of the season, but I am fully committed to finishing the season in style.

“I am grateful to the team for giving me a chance in Formula One: this is not an easy sport for rookies, but the team has allowed me to grow so much over these three years.

"China, earlier this season, was without doubt a highlight, but so many moments, both in public and behind the scenes, are what I am going to remember from the last three years.

“I’ll now focus on the next step in my career: I still have plenty of fight left in me and I am keen to continue progressing.”

As Stake F1 shifts its focus toward 2025, Binotto’s priority is to secure a strong teammate for Hulkenberg, with an announcement expected soon as Gabriel Bortoleto appears to be the favorite to fill the last of the team’s seats.