Cadillac has officially announced Zhou Guanyu as its reserve driver ahead of the team’s debut in Formula 1, adding valuable race experience to the new outfit’s roster. The 26-year-old joins after leaving Ferrari, where he served as reserve driver last season.
Zhou Guanyu’s Ferrari Exit
The move comes just days after Ferrari confirmed Zhou’s exit, making this a quick turnaround for F1’s first Chinese driver. Zhou now links up with Cadillac at a crucial time, as the American manufacturer prepares for its first campaign in the sport. The team will benefit from having someone who not only knows modern F1 machinery but has also worked inside established organisations like Sauber and Ferrari.
Zhou Guanyu raced in Formula 1 with Sauber from 2022 to 2024, making 68 starts during his three-year spell on the grid. Across those seasons, he scored 16 points, with standout eighth-place finishes at the 2022 Canadian Grand Prix and the 2024 Qatar Grand Prix marking the high points of his F1 career so far. While those results may not jump off the page, they came in machinery that was rarely fighting at the front, underlining his consistency and race craft.
A Long-Due Reunion
Zhou Guanyu’s arrival at Cadillac also reunites him with former team-mate Valtteri Bottas, who will race for the squad alongside Sergio Pérez in the upcoming season. The pair previously shared a garage at Sauber, meaning Zhou already understands how Bottas works and communicates within a team environment. That familiarity can help Cadillac settle quickly, with smoother feedback loops between race drivers and the reserve when it comes to car development and simulator work.
Zhou also brings a long-standing relationship with team principal Graeme Lowdon, who has managed him for several years. That history creates a level of trust that is rare for a brand-new team still building its identity in the paddock. From Cadillac’s perspective, having leadership and driver aligned from day one is a key advantage as they navigate the steep learning curve of a first F1 season.
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Zhou Guanyu Applauds Cadillac As “Biggest Project”
Speaking about the move, Zhou Guanyu described joining Cadillac as part of “one of the biggest and most exciting new projects that the sport has ever seen.” He highlighted that working again with Lowdon and Bottas feels like “rejoining family,” signalling a comfortable environment in which he expects to perform at his best. Zhou also stressed that his recent race and development experience means he can “add huge value” to the team, particularly as it takes its first steps in Formula 1.
For Cadillac, the signing balances its line-up by pairing test driver Colton Herta’s potential with Zhou’s proven F1 mileage. Herta has yet to race in Formula 1, so having Zhou as a safety net and technical reference gives the team stability if called upon during a race weekend. With Bottas and Pérez leading the charge, and Zhou supporting in the background, Cadillac enters F1 with a blend of experience and ambition that should serve it well in its debut season.
Also read: Ferrari Confirms Zhou Guanyu Won’t Be Reserve Driver For 2026
