The Cadillac Formula 1 Team confirmed that Zhou Guanyu will be the team’s reserve driver in its debut in Formula 1, scheduled for the 2026 season. The announcement was made from Fishers, in the United States, and Silverstone, in the United Kingdom.
Zhou joins the group of Cadillac drivers in F1, which includes Valtteri Bottas, Sergio Perez and test driver Colton Herta, who will compete in Formula 2 for the Hitech team in 2026.
Born in Shanghai, Zhou is the first and, to date, only Chinese driver to compete in Formula 1. His career in the category includes 68 Grands Prix, started in 2022 by Alfa Romeo, when he scored points on three occasions, including his debut at the Bahrain GP. In 2023, he scored three points again and remained with the team in 2024, now under the name Kick Sauber, recording the team’s only points result that season at the Qatar GP.
At 26 years old, Zhou also brings recent experience acquired with Scuderia Ferrari, which will supply power units and gearboxes to Cadillac in 2026. In 2025, the driver acted as a reserve for the Italian team, participating in track programs, simulators and tests with cars from previous seasons, accumulating relevant technical knowledge before assuming his new role.
In the base categories, Zhou stood out with 20 podiums and five victories over three seasons in Formula 2, ending the 2021 championship in third place. In the same year, he won the Asian Formula 3 Championship, with four victories and five pole positions. His CV also includes triumphs in the European Formula 3 Championship and the Italian Formula 4 Championship, in which he finished runner-up in 2015.
In an official statement, Zhou stated that he was pleased with the opportunity to integrate the Cadillac project in Formula 1 and highlighted his familiarity with team members such as Graeme Lowdon and Valtteri Bottas. According to the driver, his recent experience on the track and in car development can contribute to the team’s preparation work for its debut in the category.
Source and image: Cadillac. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
