Ferrari Thanks Reserve Driver Zhou Guanyu as He Departs

Ferrari has officially bid farewell to reserve driver Zhou Guanyu, concluding his stint with the Scuderia after the 2025 season. The team publicly thanked the Chinese driver, who in turn expressed his gratitude for the trust placed in him during his time as a reserve and shared the message on his social media.

Why it matters:

Zhou's departure marks the end of his immediate ties with Ferrari, a team he's been associated with through the Ferrari Driver Academy in his junior career. For a driver actively seeking a return to a full-time race seat, losing a high-profile reserve role is a significant setback, especially as the 2026 driver market solidifies with new regulations and team entries on the horizon.

The details:

• Zhou shared the reserve role with Antonio Giovinazzi, who also competes for Ferrari in the World Endurance Championship.
• After leaving Sauber at the end of 2024, Zhou had hoped to secure a seat with the new Cadillac team for 2026. However, the team ultimately signed Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez.
• In a recent interview, Zhou emphasized his strategy of staying visible in the paddock, talking to teams to showcase his abilities beyond his three-year tenure at Sauber. He believes the 2026 regulation changes will create opportunities as other drivers' futures become uncertain.
• Separately, Ferrari also announced that F1 Academy driver Aurelia Nobels would be leaving the Ferrari Driver Academy after two seasons in the series.

What's next:

Zhou is now a free agent, actively pursuing conversations with teams to secure a drive for 2026 or beyond. His challenge is to convince teams of his value outside of a formal reserve program. With the grid set for significant changes, his experience and recent proximity to a top team like Ferrari could be valuable assets if the right opportunity arises. The next few months of the silly season will be critical for his F1 future.