F1 Grand Prix of Qatar - Practice & Sprint Qualifying - Source: Getty
The 2024 Abu Dhabi GP was the last race for Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu with Sauber. With Sauber moving into a transitional phase before the Audi takeover, the German automaker influenced Sauber’s decision for the 2025 driver lineup. Neither Bottas nor Zhou were on their list as the team bid farewell to them. A guard of honor was given to the drivers by the whole team in the paddock.
Canal+ F1’s official X handle uploaded a video from the Sauber garage. As Zhou and Bottas walked towards the garage for their final race with Sauber, all the employees came out in the paddock behind the garage and clapped for the two drivers. The team thanked the drivers by giving them a guard of honor.
Zhou gave high fives to the members as he walked down the paddock whereas Bottas had a smile on his face. The two drivers walked side-by-side as the Finnish driver put his hand on his teammate's shoulder. The two were then presented with their national flags as they exchanged hugs with a few members. They then posed with the flags for photographs, thanked the team for the heartwarming gesture, and went inside the garage.
