F1 star 'struggling to keep weight off' as 'issue' arises before United States GP

Formula One star has admitted it will be an "issue" for him to manage his weight as the teams head to the United States Grand Prix ahead of a gruelling triple header.

Keeping weight to a minimum is a difficult but essential challenge for F1 drivers, as their mass contributes to their car when it is weighed, which could cost them several tenths or even seconds during races.

But after a four-week break between the last race in Singapore and the next at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Zhou has conceded he may struggle to keep things balanced as he tucks into the local cuisine.

"I've experienced quite a bit [of the culture] in Texas, more than most of the other races," he said. "We have this triple-header, so most of the teams stay in Austin and then travel straight to Mexico three or four days after.

"It's just different, people dressing in cowboy boots and hats, it's so different to what I see [in Europe and Asia] on this side of the world. Of course, the food is delicious... trying to keep the weight down that week is an issue for sure."

When asked which race weekend was his favourite on the other side of the Atlantic ahead of visits to Texas, Mexico, Brazil and Las Vegas, Zhou explained why Austin was an easy choice and elaborated on the problems drivers face in Sin City.

"Texas is a great place to be. It's super chilled, but it has a very high value for motorsport," Zhou told the . "The fans are big on motorsport... whereas compared to Miami and Vegas, that's more of a show. I like the pure racing atmosphere.

"It's super bumpy, and the temperatures change between snowing and sunshine, so it's normal that you get the tarmac raising up. But it's classic, traditional... it's very challenging, but I love the layout, with plenty of overtaking opportunities."

On Las Vegas, he added: "It was a very different weekend compared to usual. We have other night races, but it's a different feeling. In Vegas, everything happens in the night.

"The biggest challenge for the drivers is the lights... all the lights coming from the hotels, in the background of the street. You're aiming for the breaking point and it's easy to get distracted by the brightness, it's insane."

Zhou will be desperate to make an impression this weekend, with Sauber now the only team left to announce their 2025 driver lineup.

The 25-year-old is yet to score a championship point this season and looks likely to be replaced, with Nico Hulkenberg already confirmed as one of their drivers.

Williams driver Franco Colapinto, 21, has been earmarked as a potential successor to the Chinese racer after impressing in his first three races in F1.