F1 Rumour: Alfa Romeo Tried To Replace Zhou Guanyu With Nico Hulkenberg

Amid performance concerns and internal tensions, Alfa Romeo reportedly contemplated replacing Guanyu Zhou with Nico Hülkenberg but eventually retained Zhou.

In the wake of a Sauber contract extension, there are now rumours that Alfa Romeo aimed to replace Zhou Guanyu with Haas driver Nico Hülkenberg. Despite these whispers, the decision was eventually made to retain Zhou.

Key Takeaways:

• Behind-the-Scenes Tensions: Alfa Romeo, disappointed by a harmonious driver relationship, believed that successful teams thrive on some internal tension. With Zhou and Bottas consistently echoing each other's sentiments, insiders claimed this camaraderie was damaging to the competitive spirit.
• Performance Woes: The team's underwhelming results, securing only 14 points in 27 races, accelerated internal discussions about changes. The recent departure of technical director Jan Monchaux was a reactive measure to uplift the team ahead of a 2026 partnership with Audi.
• Driver Shuffle Considerations: Though breaking Bottas' contract was financially infeasible, Nico Hülkenberg was a top contender to join the team. This move was thwarted when Haas boss Günther Steiner retained the veteran driver.

Following their Sauber contract extensions, Valtteri Bottas and Guanyu Zhou completed the Singapore FP2 in P10 and P17 respectively. These results seemed to validate the increasing concerns and disagreements among team insiders. A predominant sentiment was that Formula 1, a domain for the self-driven, requires some competitive rivalry between teammates. An overly cordial relationship, as seen between Zhou and Bottas, was perceived as detrimental.

As the team grappled with a meagre 14-point haul from the previous 27 races, efforts were underway to recalibrate their strategy. Technical director Jan Monchaux's dismissal, for example, aimed to reinvigorate the team's technical approach. Still, as the only point earners, drivers were inevitably under scrutiny.

Alfa Romeo's initial sights were set on German driver Nico Hülkenberg. But was blocked when Haas boss Günther Steiner retained the experienced German driver. 

Subsequently, Brazilian talent Felipe Drugovich, the 2022 Formula 2 champion, became a potential recruit. Yet, the decisive step to induct Drugovich was never taken, potentially due to financial constraints or, simply, cold feet.

Ultimately, the decision rested on retaining Guanyu Zhou. This choice was, perhaps, influenced by China's return to the calendar and the significant advertising funds streaming from China into Alfa Romeo thanks to connections from its Chinese driver.