Zhou Guanyu’s career as an F1 race driver came to an end after a challenging 2024 Formula 1 season, as he failed to secure a contract for 2025. The only points he scored with Sauber came in the penultimate round of the season in Qatar, where he finished eighth. Weeks earlier, Sauber had already announced Gabriel Bortoleto as Nico Hülkenberg’s teammate for next year, leaving both Zhou and Valtteri Bottas without seats.
However, Zhou Guanyu ’s career in motorsport doesn’t seem to be over yet, as he revealed he is in discussions with various teams.
“We’re talking with multiple teams, and yes, Ferrari remains one of the most interested,” Zhou Guanyu stated. “We need to see; obviously, there are many factors to consider before making a decision. But it’s clear that we are evaluating all the options available to us.”
“From my side, I don’t want to think too far ahead just yet because I want to ensure everything is clear and in place, securing a meaningful commitment for the next project. I hope something happens and gets decided soon. I believe I’ll have a clearer idea within a few weeks,” the Chinese driver concluded.
Could Zhou Guanyu be the right choice for Ferrari?
Ferrari has yet to confirm who their reserve driver for 2025 will be, revealing nothing so far about the potential addition of Zhou to the team. Oliver Bearman and Robert Shwartzman left significant gaps in Ferrari’s lineup after departing Maranello to sign with Haas and Prema, respectively.
Given their exits, signing Zhou could prove to be the most logical choice for Ferrari. First, the Chinese driver has prior ties to Ferrari, having been part of their Driver Academy from 2014 to 2018. Moreover, Zhou joined Sauber in 2022 when the Swiss team was led by Frédéric Vasseur, now Ferrari’s team principal.
For Zhou, joining Ferrari would come with several advantages beyond simply becoming a reserve driver. The contract would likely grant him opportunities to race in the Scuderia’s Hypercar program and potentially pave the way to securing a new race seat in F1.
Zhou Guanyu is also managed by Graeme Lowdon, Team Principal of Cadillac. As widely known, the American brand recently struck a deal to become a Ferrari engine customer for their F1 debut in 2026 and 2027. Should Zhou secure the Ferrari reserve driver role next year, the circumstances could position him as a prime candidate for a full-time seat at Cadillac the following season.
