Ferrari Parts Ways with Reserve Driver Guanyu Zhou After One Season

Ferrari has ended its partnership with reserve driver Guanyu Zhou after just one season, leaving the Chinese driver's Formula 1 future in serious doubt. The 26-year-old was brought on at the end of 2024 after losing his race seat at Sauber, hoping the role with a top team would pave his way back to the grid. Now, with Ferrari's backing gone and no other opportunities on the horizon, Zhou's F1 career appears to be over.

Why it matters:

Zhou's departure from Ferrari closes a significant chapter for the driver and highlights the brutal reality of F1's driver market. For Zhou, losing the support of a top team like Ferrari severely diminishes his chances of securing a competitive race seat, effectively ending his hopes of a comeback in the near term.

The details:

• Ferrari announced the split via a brief social media statement, thanking Zhou for his "commitment and contribution" and wishing him well for the future.
• Zhou had publicly stated his ambition to return as a full-time driver, saying at the start of the season, "I definitely have the hunger to get a full-time cockpit back in Formula 1."
• A potential lifeline with the new Cadillac project for 2026 fell through when the team opted for experienced drivers Sergio Pérez and Valtteri Bottas.
• This marks the second, and likely final, end to Zhou's association with the Scuderia. He was previously a member of the Ferrari Driver Academy from 2014 to 2018.

What's next:

With no reserve role and no viable path to a race seat, Zhou's options in Formula 1 are virtually nonexistent. His career now hinges on a potential shift to other racing series or securing a non-driving role within the motorsport industry, but a return to the F1 grid seems highly improbable without a major, unexpected opportunity.