Ferrari Parts Ways With Reserve Driver Zhou Guanyu
Ferrari and reserve driver Zhou Guanyu have parted ways, leaving the Chinese driver without a 2026 contract after missing out on a seat with the new Cadillac team.
Ferrari has announced its departure from reserve driver Zhou Guanyu, concluding his one-season stint with the Maranello-based team. The move comes as the 26-year-old Chinese driver remains without a contract for the 2026 Formula 1 season, having been a key target for the new Cadillac entry.
Why it matters:
Zhou's departure from Ferrari effectively closes a crucial pathway back to a full-time race seat. For a driver who lost his Sauber drive just last year, the reserve role was a strategic move to stay visible and connected, with the explicit goal of securing a 2026 seat. The failure to land the coveted Cadillac spot highlights the intense competition for limited opportunities, even with a new team joining the grid.
The details:
- Zhou joined Ferrari as a reserve driver for 2025 alongside Antonio Giovinazzi after losing his race seat at Sauber at the end of the 2024 season.
- The move was a reunion of sorts, as Zhou was previously a member of the Ferrari Driver Academy from 2014 to 2018.
- His main objective for the 2025 season was to secure a race drive with the incoming Cadillac F1 team for 2026.
- Cadillac ultimately opted for experienced drivers, signing former Red Bull driver Sergio Perez and Zhou's ex-Sauber teammate, Valtteri Bottas, leaving Zhou without a 2026 option.
What's next:
Zhou Guanyu's future in Formula 1 is now uncertain. With the Cadillac door closed and no obvious openings on the 2026 grid, his options appear limited. The driver has not yet announced his next move, leaving open the possibility of pursuing opportunities outside of F1, such as IndyCar or endurance racing, or waiting on the sidelines for a potential mid-season opportunity. His next career step will be a pivotal one in determining whether he can return to the F1 paddock as a competitor.