Ferrari’s third driver for the 2025 Formula 1 season, Zhou Guanyu, has shared insights about his experience with the Maranello team and revealed his goals for the future. After three years at Sauber alongside Valtteri Bottas, Zhou joined Ferrari as a reserve driver in 2025 — a return to familiar territory, since he was part of the Ferrari Driver Academy between 2014 and 2018.
Earlier this season, following the confirmation that an eleventh team will join the Formula 1 grid in 2026, Zhou Guanyu was initially seen as one of the main candidates for a seat at the new Cadillac team. However, the American outfit ultimately opted for Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas to lead its debut campaign.
Looking ahead to the future
In an exclusive interview with PlanetF1.com, Zhou Guanyu explained the importance of his current role at Ferrari, both for the team’s development and for his own personal growth. Serving as a reserve driver, he said, has helped him strengthen several key aspects of his performance and understanding of the sport.
“I think it’s important to work with different people and different teams so they can understand your abilities,” Zhou said. “When I came here [to Ferrari], many people didn’t really know the kind of driver I was. But the engineers have been quite positive about all the feedback and data analysis I’ve been able to provide. That’s something that makes me proud.”
For Zhou, the work at Ferrari has been an excellent opportunity, but he also admits that his long-term goal remains to return to the grid as a full-time Formula 1 driver. “I think it’s important to stay in the paddock and let more people understand the kind of driver you are,” he continued. “Sometimes when you stay with the same team for three years after coming straight from Formula 2, only the people you work with really get to know you. But to have a big opportunity, you need the whole paddock to know your value.”
Goal: a return to the F1 grid
The Chinese driver made it clear that his ambition is to return to racing in the near future. “That’s why I’m here. I feel there are still opportunities. We’re talking to people and trying to understand what possibilities are out there. I’m focused on my work with Ferrari, but I also want others to know that the door is always open when they need me.”
For Zhou Guanyu, 2026 — with the introduction of new technical regulations and the uncertainty they bring — could represent the perfect opportunity to make his return to a Formula 1 race seat. Despite keeping an eye on the future, the Ferrari reserve driver said he is satisfied with his current situation: “At the moment, I’m happy with where I am. Of course, I would love to be back on the grid next year. But if that doesn’t happen, I’ll simply wait another year and see what comes next.”
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