Zhou Guanyu Joins Cadillac as Reserve Driver for 2026 F1 Entry
Zhou Guanyu has signed as Cadillac's reserve driver for their 2026 F1 entry, drawn by the project's serious ambition to compete. He views the role as a crucial step toward returning to a full-time race seat.
After a year on the sidelines, Zhou Guanyu is returning to the F1 grid as Cadillac's reserve driver for their ambitious 2026 debut. The Chinese driver was convinced to join by the American manufacturer's clear intent to compete at the highest level, not simply make up the numbers. Zhou sees the role as a strategic move to position himself for a return to a full-time race seat.
Why it matters:
For Zhou, this role represents his most viable path back to a full-time race seat after spending the 2025 season as a Ferrari reserve driver. For Cadillac, securing a driver with recent and relevant F1 experience is a significant coup for a brand-new team entering the sport amid massive 2026 technical regulations. Zhou's knowledge will be invaluable in developing the car and providing feedback, accelerating the team's learning curve against established competitors.
The details:
- A "Bright Future": Zhou was impressed by Cadillac's long-term vision, stating, "I really felt the future is bright." He emphasized the team isn't just "setting up a team just to be on the grid – they're setting up a team trying to compete."
- Familiar Faces: Personal connections played a part, as Zhou knows team principal Graeme Lowdon, who is also his manager, and former teammate Valtteri Bottas.
- Mutual Benefit: Zhou believes the arrangement is a two-way street. Cadillac gains his recent experience, while he gets "the best opportunity for me in order to be back behind the wheel."
- 2026 Rule Changes: Zhou highlighted that his experience will be especially crucial with the "massive rule change" in 2026, providing a knowledge base that less experienced drivers might lack.
What's next:
Zhou will integrate with the team, supporting race drivers Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas in simulator work, testing, and development as Cadillac builds its 2026 car. While his immediate focus is on contributing to the team's successful debut, the move is clearly a calculated step by Zhou to remain in the F1 ecosystem and be the first in line should a race seat become available. Cadillac's ambitious project, backed by General Motors, now has a dedicated and experienced reserve driver as it gears up for its highly anticipated entry into Formula 1.