Cadillac has confirmed Zhou Guanyu as its reserve driver for the team's maiden Formula 1 campaign. The Chinese racer, who competed with Alfa Romeo/Kick Sauber between 2022 and 2024, now joins an American outfit backed by General Motors. Zhou will support race drivers Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez, while former IndyCar talent Colton Herta takes on testing duties. This marks another significant step in Cadillac's ambitious entry into the sport.
At 26, Zhou brings valuable experience, having contested 68 Grands Prix and etched his name in history as China's first F1 driver when he debuted with Sauber in 2022. His move ensures continuity in the paddock after parting ways with the Swiss team at the close of 2024.
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Zhou Guanyu's Formula 1 career so far includes 68 race starts, with points scored on seven occasions-his debut at the 2022 Bahrain Grand Prix being one of them. He also secured Kick Sauber's lone points finish of 2024 in Qatar, underlining his consistency. At the close of that season, Zhou transitioned to Ferrari as a reserve driver, contributing through simulator sessions, trackside duties, and their Testing of Previous Cars (TPC) programme. This role added valuable technical depth to his profile.
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Upon his appointment as the reserve driver for the team, Zhou Guanyu said, "I am delighted to join the Cadillac Formula 1 Team as a Reserve Driver ahead of its Formula 1 series debut. This is one of the biggest and most exciting new projects that the sport has ever seen.
"I have worked with both Graeme [Lowdon] and Valtteri [Bottas] for many years in various capacities, so joining the team feels like rejoining family. Having had recent experience on track and in developing the cars off track, I know I can add huge value to the Cadillac Formula 1 Team, and I am looking forward to supporting them the best way that I can."
Beyond his Formula 1 career, Zhou Guanyu built an impressive record as a junior driver. Over three seasons in Formula 2, he secured 20 podiums and five race wins, ultimately finishing third in the 2021 championship. That same year, he clinched the F3 Asian Championship title with four victories and five pole positions. His resume also includes triumphs in the prestigious Formula 3 European Championship, along with a runner-up finish in the Italian Formula 4 Championship back in 2015, underscoring his long-standing reputation as a rising talent.
Now, Zhou is set to channel that experience into Cadillac's debut F1 campaign. With Ferrari providing the team's power unit and gearbox for 2026, his prior familiarity with the Italian marque's systems could prove a significant advantage.