Cadillac Poised for Zhou Announcement as F1's Off-Season News Accelerates
Cadillac is poised to announce Zhou Guanyu as its 2026 reserve driver, capping a day of rapid F1 news that includes updates on Leclerc, Tsunoda, and Alpine's future outlook.
The F1 silly season is in full swing, with Cadillac poised to confirm Zhou Guanyu as its 2026 reserve driver. This announcement highlights a flurry of off-season activity, from Charles Leclerc's cancelled Antarctic adventure to Haas's long-term interest in Yuki Tsunoda and Alpine's hopeful outlook for the new regulations.
Why it matters:
Cadillac's imminent announcement solidifies its entry into F1, giving the new team an experienced driver familiar with the grid. The driver market is already active for 2026 and beyond, with teams like Haas planning for the future after the 2026 rules shake-up. These moves and comments provide early indicators of team strategies and driver trajectories as the sport prepares for a major technical overhaul.
The details:
- Cadillac's First Piece: Zhou Guanyu is expected to be named Cadillac's reserve driver for 2026. The Chinese driver, managed by team principal Graeme Lowdon, was a Ferrari reserve in 2025.
- Leclerc's Antarctic Setback: Charles Leclerc was forced to cancel a New Year's trip to Antarctica due to a "technical problem" with his boat.
- Haas Looks Ahead: Team principal Ayao Komatsu hasn't ruled out signing Yuki Tsunoda for the 2027 season. Tsunoda was demoted to a Red Bull reserve role for 2026.
- Alpine's Hopeful Horizon: Pierre Gasly sees the 2026 regulation changes as "light at the end of the tunnel" for Alpine after a dismal 2025 season where they finished last in the standings.
- Bearman Defends Antonelli: Oliver Bearman strongly condemned online trolls who sent death threats to Mercedes' Andrea Kimi Antonelli following the 2025 season finale.
What's next:
All eyes are on Cadillac for the official confirmation of Zhou Guanyu and potentially more driver announcements as they build their team for 2026. With Zhou's move, focus will shift to the remaining vacant seats and how the driver market shapes up ahead of the new rules era. Teams like Alpine and Haas will continue their development programs behind the scenes, with their 2026 performance determining the next phase of driver and team strategies.