Guanyu Zhou trades Ferrari for Cadillac

Just a few days after saying goodbye to Ferrari, Guanyu Zhou has already found a new home in Formula 1. He won’t be lining up as a full‑time driver—the 22‑seat grid is already set—but the Chinese driver has chosen a project that keeps him firmly in the conversation for a future return. And Cadillac, F1’s newest team, turned out to be the ideal landing spot.

The American outfit has signed Zhou as its official reserve driver, the same role he held at Ferrari but with a clearer path to the cockpit. That’s because Colton Herta, Cadillac’s test driver, still doesn’t hold the FIA super license required to race in a Grand Prix. For now, Zhou is effectively the team’s only race‑eligible backup.

“I’m thrilled to join the Cadillac Formula 1 team as reserve driver ahead of their debut,” the 26‑year‑old said. “This is one of the biggest and most exciting projects the sport has ever seen. I’ve worked with Graeme and Valtteri for many years in different roles, so joining this team feels like coming back to family.”

Zhou, who remains determined to return to full‑time competition, believes he can make an immediate impact:“With my recent on‑track experience and my work developing cars behind the scenes, I know I can bring real value to Cadillac’s F1 program. I’m excited to support the team in every way possible.”

A strategic move for F1’s first Chinese driver

Zhou is still the first—and only—Chinese driver ever to race in Formula 1. His move to Cadillac doesn’t come as a surprise; his name had been circulating internally months before the team finalized its main lineup with Sergio “Checo” Pérez and Valtteri Bottas, both of whom are returning to the grid for the upcoming season.

Cadillac has been rapidly expanding its driver roster. Alongside Pérez, Bottas, and Herta, the team also employs Simon Pagenaud, Pietro Fittipaldi, and Charlie Eastwood as simulator drivers. Zhou’s arrival strengthens the organization even further—and underscores the growing threat posed by F1’s incoming 11th team, which intends to challenge the established giants sooner rather than later.

Herta, 25, remains Cadillac’s long‑term bet for a future race seat, but he’ll need to earn his super license first. He’s set to compete in Formula 2 this season to accumulate the required points.

Why Cadillac chose Zhou

“Our process for selecting a reserve driver was just as rigorous as choosing our race drivers,” said team principal Graeme Lowdon, a familiar figure in F1 from his days leading Virgin and Marussia. “We wanted someone with recent F1 experience, someone willing to work hard as part of a team, and someone who understands the challenges of developing a car throughout a season. Zhou checks every box.”

Lowdon added that Zhou will be “a major asset” heading into the 2026 season and that the team expects him to become “a key piece of our long‑term structure.”

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