Formula 1 Rumor: Cadillac team to sign Zhou Guanyu as Reserve Driver (Update)
This rumor is upgraded to ‘fact’ today with this press release:
The Cadillac Formula 1® Team is pleased to confirm that Zhou Guanyu has joined as Reserve Driver for the team’s Formula 1 debut in 2026.
Zhou joins a talented lineup of drivers at the Cadillac Formula 1® Team, which includes race drivers Valtteri Bottas – alongside whom he raced throughout his stints at Alfa Romeo and Kick Sauber – and Checo Perez, plus Test Driver Colton Herta, who will compete in Formula 2 with Hitech in 2026.
Shanghai-born Zhou, who is China’s first and only F1 driver, brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the team. His 68-race F1 career began in 2022 with Alfa Romeo, for whom he scored points three times, including on his debut in the Bahrain Grand Prix. Having quickly developed a reputation as a fast and hard-working team player, he continued with the outfit in 2023 when he also scored points on three occasions. Zhou remained with the team when it became Kick Sauber in 2024, and he claimed its only points finish of the year in the Qatar Grand Prix.
The 26-year-old also brings valuable experience from his time with Scuderia Ferrari, which will supply the Cadillac Formula 1® Team with its power unit and gearbox in 2026. Zhou completed various trackside, simulator, and Testing of Previous Cars (TPC) programs for the Italian marque in 2025 as Reserve Driver, acquiring relevant and recent experience ahead of his new role with the Cadillac Formula 1® Team.
As a junior driver, Zhou was recognized as a standout talent. He collected 20 podium finishes, including five victories, across a three-year stint in Formula 2, which culminated in third place in the series standings in 2021, when he also won the F3 Asian Championship by claiming four victories and five pole positions. He boasts wins in the highly regarded Formula 3 European Championship and Italian Formula 4 Championship, finishing second in the latter in 2015.
Zhou Guanyu said: “I am delighted to join the Cadillac Formula 1 Team as a Reserve Driver ahead of its Formula 1 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.”
Graeme Lowdon, Team Principal, Cadillac Formula 1 Team, said: “Our process for selecting a Reserve Driver has been as thorough as the search for our Race Drivers. We wanted a candidate who had recent F1 driving experience, is prepared to work hard as part of a team and understands the challenges of developing a car throughout the season. Zhou fits the bill perfectly. He will be a great asset to us as we go racing in 2026 and we look forward to him being an integral part of our team.”
Dan Towriss, CEO of Cadillac Formula 1 Team Holdings, said: “I’m excited to welcome Zhou to Cadillac Formula 1 Team. He will be an excellent addition to complement Valtteri and Checo; talented, personable and respectful of the hard work and commitment it will take for us to achieve our ambitions. I’m excited by our complete driver line-up – alongside Colton, we have a hungry, fast and collaborative group to make our 2026 debut.”
January 2, 2026
January 2, 2026 – The Formula 1 silly season isn’t over yet, and the paddock is buzzing with fresh speculation surrounding the new Cadillac team ahead of their 2026 grid debut.
–by Mark Cipolloni–
Sources close to the American outfit suggest that Cadillac is on the verge of announcing Zhou Guanyu as a reserve and test driver, just hours after Ferrari confirmed the Chinese driver’s departure from their reserve role for the upcoming season.
The rumor gained traction today when Cadillac posted a cryptic teaser on social media: a close-up image of a cat’s eye with the caption “Reflections of the future.” Embedded in the reflection is the number 24 – Zhou’s long-standing F1 race number – alongside the Cadillac logo and the date January 5, hinting at an imminent reveal.
View this post on Instagram
Fans quickly connected the dots, especially given Zhou’s well-known love for cats (his beloved pet is named Sweetcorn) and the timing of his Ferrari exit. Comments flooded in speculating “Zhou as third driver?” and references to “Sweetcorn’s eyes,” fueling the fire.
Zhou, 26, spent 2025 as Ferrari’s reserve alongside Antonio Giovinazzi after losing his full-time seat at Sauber (now Audi) at the end of 2024. Ferrari issued a gracious farewell today: “Grateful for Zhou Guanyu’s commitment and contribution as Ferrari Reserve Driver this season! Wishing him all the best ahead.” Zhou had hoped the role would position him for a 2026 race return, with Cadillac often mentioned due to team principal Graeme Lowdon’s past management ties to the driver and the team’s Ferrari customer engine deal.
Cadillac’s confirmed 2026 race lineup is the experienced duo of Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas, with IndyCar star Colton Herta already named as a test/reserve driver who will also contest Formula 2. Adding Zhou would bolster the team’s depth, bringing valuable Ferrari power unit knowledge, five years of F1 experience, and significant commercial appeal in the massive Chinese market.
The January 5 announcement comes ahead of Cadillac’s full livery reveal, planned for a high-profile Super Bowl TV advert on February 8. If the rumors hold, Zhou’s addition would be a smart, low-risk move for the newcomers – keeping him in the paddock while providing stability behind their veteran race drivers.
As always in F1, nothing is official until it’s announced… but all signs point to the cat being out of the bag soon. Stay tuned for January 5!