Alongside Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, Guanyu Zhou and Antonio Giovinazzi will serve as Ferrari’s reserve drivers. For both the Italian and the Chinese driver, it is a return, as they will officially hold the role for the Maranello team in the 2025 season.
Born in Shanghai on May 30, 1999, Zhou joined the Ferrari Academy in 2015 after his karting career. With the Maranello Academy, he competed in Formula 4 and Formula 3. He and Ferrari parted ways at the end of 2018 before he made his debut in Formula 2, a category in which he won five times and achieved 20 podiums in three seasons before reaching Formula 1.
Why Guanyu Zhou’s arrival at Ferrari is not just a sporting decision
Zhou was the first Chinese driver to compete in Formula 1, racing for Alfa Romeo during the 2022 and 2023 Formula 1 seasons and remaining with the team under the Kick Sauber name in 2024. He has taken part in 68 Grands Prix, scored 16 points, and twice set the fastest lap in a race.
Ferrari, what’s behind Zhou’s signing – Analysis
For the Chinese driver, this represents a homecoming, but there is more behind the decision. In a world where sponsors continue to play a crucial role, especially in the top tier of motorsport, certain choices are driven by factors far beyond racing.
There is no secret that the Chinese market is growing stronger, and Guanyu Zhou’s presence at Ferrari will undoubtedly open new opportunities. The former Sauber driver will have the chance to bring several Chinese sponsors with him, which will have a significant economic impact for Ferrari.
Source: f1ingenerale
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