After spending three seasons competing for Alfa Romeo and later Sauber, Zhou Guanyu may have believed that his tenure in the Formula 1 paddock was set to conclude in 2025.
With Sauber opting to overhaul its driver lineup for 2025, both Zhou and teammate Valtteri Bottas found themselves without seats, making way for Haas standout Nico Hülkenberg and newly crowned Formula 2 champion Gabriel Bortoleto. However, Zhou had no intention of walking away from Formula 1 and remained linked with several opportunities across the grid.
Reports suggested Red Bull considered Zhou as a potential reserve driver, particularly due to his potential role in aiding the development of young talent like Arvid Lindblad. But on Wednesday, it was officially confirmed that Ferrari had secured Zhou’s services, assigning him to share reserve duties alongside another former Sauber driver, Antonio Giovinazzi. This move keeps the 25-year-old’s F1 aspirations alive despite a modest record of just 16 points across 68 Grand Prix starts.
While his statistics may not be the most impressive, Zhou did manage to outscore the far more experienced Valtteri Bottas in 2024, with his standout performance coming at the Qatar Grand Prix, where he finished eighth and earned widespread recognition for his efforts.
Former Haas team principal Guenther Steiner was quick to downplay Zhou’s season, claiming he only had one strong race in 2024. However, many argue that his struggles were largely due to Sauber’s underperforming car rather than his own shortcomings. Should Ferrari find itself needing a substitute, Zhou could be called upon to step in for either Lewis Hamilton or Charles Leclerc during the 2025 season.
As demonstrated by new Haas recruit Oliver Bearman, unexpected call-ups can occur more frequently than some may anticipate.
Lewis Hamilton once praised Zhou Guanyu after standout qualifying display
During the qualifying session for the 2023 Hungarian Grand Prix, Zhou delivered a career-best performance by securing fifth place on the grid. The achievement caught the attention of seven-time World Champion Lewis Hamilton, who acknowledged Zhou’s efforts during the pre-race lap of the track.
Hamilton, who had secured pole position for the race, approached the then-Alfa Romeo driver and said, “Great job yesterday, man! Really great job!” Zhou responded with a simple but appreciative, “Have a good race!”
Despite starting from the front, Hamilton was unable to prevent Max Verstappen from clinching yet another race win, while Zhou endured a difficult afternoon. A poor start led to a collision with Daniel Ricciardo, which in turn triggered a multi-car incident that forced both Alpine drivers to retire. Zhou ultimately finished in 16th place, far from the expectations set by his impressive qualifying run.
While the race itself was disappointing, it served as a reminder of the raw talent that Ferrari now hopes to utilize. Zhou’s return to the Scuderia’s ranks is something of a full-circle moment, given that he was a member of their driver academy between 2014 and 2018.
Zhou Guanyu has also spoken in the past about Lewis Hamilton’s profound influence on Formula 1, further highlighting the mutual respect between the two drivers.
During his debut Formula 1 season in 2022, Zhou Guanyu reflected on Lewis Hamilton’s career and the challenges he had faced. He remarked on Hamilton’s ability to handle immense pressure, describing it as remarkable.
Zhou Guanyu drew parallels between his own experiences at the beginning of the season and the struggles Hamilton had endured at various points in his career. He acknowledged that while Hamilton had to navigate those challenges while competing for multiple F1 titles, his own focus was more on securing points and maximizing his car’s potential. Expressing his admiration, Guanyu Zhou emphasized the level of respect he had for Hamilton’s achievements.
The former Sauber man highlighted the difficulty of maintaining dominance in Formula 1, noting that winning seven championships was an extraordinary feat, regardless of having the best car, as success still required immense skill and perseverance.
Zhou Guanyu also mentioned that Hamilton had congratulated him after his debut race in Bahrain and that they occasionally stayed in touch. Though they had not known each other for long, Zhou noted that 2022 was the first season in which he truly got to know the seven-time champion. He acknowledged that Hamilton, as a competitor, did not offer him direct advice, but had nonetheless been supportive, recognizing the similarities in their respective journeys through the sport.
Zhou Guanyu will be eager to absorb as much knowledge as he can from both Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc throughout the upcoming year, using their experience and expertise to refine his skills and further develop as a driver.
With an eye on securing a full-time return to the Formula 1 grid in 2026, he remains determined to position himself for any potential opportunities. Although a direct path back through Ferrari appears improbable, the team’s extensive network and influence within the paddock could ultimately work to his advantage, opening doors that might otherwise remain closed.
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