Zhou Guanyu says he knew about Lewis Hamilton's blockbuster Ferrari announcement before the news was made public.
Hamilton will bring what will be an 11-year Mercedes career to an end following the conclusion of the upcoming 2024 season. At the age of 40, he will begin a new chapter of his stellar Formula 1 career and hope to win an historic eighth world title with Ferrari.
The news came out last Thursday morning with an official announcement later in the day. But Sauber driver Zhou was in the know before then, thanks to his manager Marc Hynes who has recently renewed his professional relationship with the seven-time world champion.
Hamilton brought his good friend and former colleague Hynes back into the fold just a few days before his Ferrari plan became public knowledge. Having heard whispers about the potential switch, Zhou reached out to Hynes to ask about the situation.
"I know Marc, which is [Hamilton's] kind of management together with me," the Chinese driver told RacingNews365. "I texted him before it, so I knew he was signing, it was a fact. I didn't tell anyone, but I was really shocked by the news.
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"But I think the people back there [at Mercedes], it’s going to be even more shocking. I think as a driver, especially Lewis, I think he is seeing himself to retire as a Ferrari driver. It's obviously very nice to have. I don't blame him for having this kind of feeling."
Hamilton has spoke on numerous occasions in the past about his dream of racing for Ferrari so the fact alone that he has joined the Italians is not much of a surprise. What did come as a shock to most was the timing of it - and Zhou counts himself among those who were taken aback.
He added: "It's very unexpected, most likely [I was] not expecting Lewis to retire as a Ferrari driver. People love to be retiring as a Ferrari driver, especially the world champions, but he announced it at the beginning of this season, which is still another season to go with his team, which is certainly a shock.
"But [it's] exciting I guess for people like us just to understand so many things are changing in other teams." Zhou's Sauber team-mate Valtteri Bottas drove alongside Hamilton for five years. When quizzed on the prospect of a Mercedes return to replace his old partner, the Finn failed to rule himself out as a candidate.
He said: "We haven't spoken on the phone yet with Toto [Wolff]. And if I would go back, yeah... Well, obviously, my priority and biggest commitment is the Audi project, which is my target. But if that wouldn't happen, there's no team that I wouldn't go [to] perhaps. I know my priorities and I've got my list."
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