Zhou Guanyu took a vital step towards reclaiming a full-time Components 1 seat on Wednesday, as Ferrari confirmed he can be sharing reserve driver duties with Antonio Giovinazzi for the 2025 season.
The 2024 driver market was extremely risky, with Lewis Hamilton’s blockbuster transfer to Ferrari triggering a domino impact that reshaped crew lineups throughout the paddock.
Zhou’s former crew, Sauber, endured a dismal season, ending on the backside of the constructors’ championship with simply 4 factors. These factors got here courtesy of Zhou’s stellar drive on the Qatar Grand Prix, however his efforts weren’t sufficient to safe his place within the squad. As a substitute, Sauber opted for an all-new lineup of Nico Hülkenberg and rookie Gabriel Bortoleto. All through the season, Zhou remained vocal about his want to remain in Components 1, although he acknowledged that his possibilities of retaining his seat with the soon-to-be Audi-run crew have been slim.
A brand new report from Motorsport Italia has make clear Zhou’s future ambitions and the way his Ferrari transfer could also be a stepping stone towards his final goal—racing for Cadillac when the crew enters Components 1 in 2026.
Zhou Guanyu’s Ambition: A Cadillac Race Seat in 2026
Ferrari has introduced Zhou onboard to share reserve duties with Antonio Giovinazzi, who may have occasional conflicts as a result of his commitments within the World Endurance Championship. The Motorsport Italia report means that Zhou’s long-term objective is to safe a seat with Cadillac in 2026, and his newest transfer might considerably increase his possibilities of reaching that goal.
Cadillac will debut in Components 1 subsequent season utilizing Ferrari energy items whereas Normal Motors continues the event of its personal engines. This association mirrors Ferrari’s partnership with Haas, which performed a key function in Oliver Bearman’s rise to a full-time F1 drive. One other main consider Zhou’s favor is that his supervisor, Graeme Lowdon, has been appointed as Cadillac’s crew principal, additional strengthening his ties to the American outfit.
Nevertheless, whereas Zhou has a powerful connection to the challenge, Cadillac can be eager on fielding an American driver. Colton Herta is among the many frontrunners for a race seat, and whereas direct comparisons between Herta and Zhou stay speculative, the Chinese language driver’s prior F1 expertise could possibly be a decisive benefit in securing the second slot on the crew.
Zhou Guanyu’s Function with Ferrari in 2025
Whereas Zhou’s addition to Ferrari’s roster isn’t a vital side of their 2025 season technique, his presence enhances the crew’s depth in case both Lewis Hamilton or Charles Leclerc is unavailable.
Antonio Giovinazzi and Components 2 prospect Dino Beganovic just lately participated in a Ferrari take a look at session in Barcelona, the place Hamilton and Leclerc additionally ran a Pirelli tire take a look at. Zhou’s return to Ferrari is notable, as he was a part of their driver academy from 2014 to 2018 earlier than shifting on to pursue alternatives elsewhere.
At current, Zhou will not be scheduled to compete in any racing sequence alongside his reserve function. Nevertheless, ought to he search race expertise in one other class, it could must align with weekends when Antonio Giovinazzi is accessible for Ferrari’s F1 commitments.
His administration crew pushed aggressively to maintain him throughout the Components 1 ecosystem, and at one level, Zhou was even linked to a reserve function with Purple Bull.
Lewis Hamilton has beforehand spoken extremely of Zhou, and dealing alongside the seven-time world champion might show invaluable because the Chinese language driver prepares for a possible return to the grid in 2026—probably as a part of Components 1’s latest crew.
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