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Josh Ball

China’s Zhou Guanyu said signing for newcomers Cadillac as a reserve driver ahead of the team’s debut Formula 1 season was like “rejoining family”.
The move reunites him with ex-Alfa Romeo and Sauber teammate Valtteri Bottas and former manager Graeme Lowdon, who is now the American outfit’s team principal.
Cadillac confirmed Zhou’s arrival on Monday, having teased the announcement on social media two days earlier. The Chinese star was released from his role with Ferrari on Friday.
Lowdon said the search for a reserve driver had been “as thorough” as the process it took to select Bottas and Sergio Perez as 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,” Lowdon said in a statement.
“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.”

The 26-year-old is far from being a stranger to the grid, having already raced 68 times in an F1 career that began with Alfa Romeo in 2022, when he scored points on his debut at the Bahrain Grand Prix.
In a difficult final year with Kick Sauber in 2024, he claimed the Swiss outfit’s only points finish of the season in the Qatar Grand Prix.
His country’s first and only F1 driver, Zhou called Cadillac’s emergence as the 11th team on the gird “one of the biggest and most exciting new projects that the sport has ever seen”.
“I am delighted to join the Cadillac Formula 1 Team as a reserve driver ahead of its Formula 1 debut,” Zhou said.
“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.”
That experience most recently was as a reserve with Ferrari last year, and Cadillac referred to his “valuable” time with the Scuderia in their statement. The team will use a power unit and gearbox supplied by the Italian manufacturer for the 2026 season.
“Zhou completed various trackside, simulator, and testing of previous cars programmes 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,” Cadillac said.
As well as reuniting with Bottas, Zhou will work alongside Perez, formerly of Red Bull, and test driver Colton Herta, who will compete in F2 with Hitech.
Dan Towriss, the team’s CEO, said he was excited to welcome Zhou to Cadillac, believing he would be “an excellent addition”.
“I’m excited by our complete driver line-up – alongside Colton, we have a hungry, fast and collaborative group to make our 2026 debut,” Towriss said.


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Formula One (F1)

Chinese driver Zhou Guanyu poses for a pictures with his fans after the world premiere of the docu-film The First One, in Shanghai, on April 16, 2024. Photo: AFP

The move reunites Zhou Guanyu (left) with former Alfa Romeo and Sauber teammate Valtteri Bottas. Photo: AP

Formula 1: China’s Zhou Guanyu tipped to join Cadillac after being released by Ferrari

Zhou Guanyu served as a backup for Ferrari last season ​following a three-year spell at ⁠Sauber. Photo: AFP

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Kai Thompson hits a forehand during his match against Emilio Nava at Victoria Park. Photo: Eugene Lee

China’s Bu Yunchaokete rallies with Nishesh Basavareddy in Causeway Bay. Photo: Eugene Lee

Sport

Motorsport

Chinese 26-year-old calls American outfit one of the ‘most exciting new projects that the sport has ever seen’


Chinese 26-year-old calls American outfit one of the ‘most exciting new projects that the sport has ever seen’.


China’s Zhou Guanyu ‘delighted’ to be joining F1 newcomers Cadillac as reserve driver

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Chinese 26-year-old calls American outfit one of the ‘most exciting new projects that the sport has ever seen’

Chinese 26-year-old calls American outfit one of the ‘most exciting new projects that the sport has ever seen’