Cadillac have completed their driver line-up for their highly anticipated F1 debut, announcing that Zhou Guanyu will serve as the team’s reserve driver for the 2026 season.
Zhou’s recruitment marks the final piece in Cadillac’s driver puzzle. He joins already-confirmed race duo Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez. Former IndyCar driver Colton Herta will serve as test driver, whilst competing in F2.
The Shanghai-born racer brings three years of grand prix experience to the table. He represented Alfa Romeo and subsequently Kick Sauber from 2022 through 2024. Across that period, the 26-year-old accumulated 68 race starts and found his way into the points on seven occasions.
His scoring debut came at the season-opener in Bahrain during his rookie campaign. He also delivered Kick Sauber’s solitary championship point of last season. That achievement came during the Qatari round. Zhou remains China’s first and only F1 driver to date.
Ferrari background proves valuable
Most recently, Zhou has been working behind the scenes at Ferrari. His exit from the Swiss-based outfit preceded this move. His responsibilities at Maranello have included simulator work and trackside support duties. He has also been involved in the Scuderia’s Testing of Previous Cars initiatives.
This background takes on added significance given Ferrari’s role as Cadillac’s supplier. The Italian manufacturer will provide power units and gearboxes from next season. Zhou’s recent experience with Ferrari’s systems could prove invaluable during Cadillac’s development phase for the upcoming F1 season.
Familiar faces and fresh opportunities
The appointment reunites Zhou with familiar faces within the organisation. He noted this connection in his reaction to the news. “I am delighted to join the Cadillac Formula 1 Team as a Reserve Driver ahead of its Formula 1 debut,” said Zhou. “This is one of the biggest and most exciting new projects that the sport has ever seen.”
“I have worked with both Graeme [Lowdon] and Valtteri for many years in various capacities, so joining the team feels like rejoining family. Having had recent experience on track and in developing the cars off track, I know I can add huge value to the Cadillac Formula 1 Team, and I am looking forward to supporting them the best way that I can.”
Thorough selection process
Team boss Graeme Lowdon defended the rigour applied to identifying the right candidate. The search mirrored the extensive process used for the race drivers. “Our process for selecting a Reserve Driver has been as thorough as the search for our Race Drivers. We wanted a candidate who had recent F1 driving experience, is prepared to work hard as part of a team and understands the challenges of developing a car throughout the season.”
“Zhou fits the bill perfectly. He will be a great asset to us as we go racing in 2026 and we look forward to him being an integral part of our team.”
Dan Towriss heads Cadillac Formula 1 Team Holdings as CEO. He welcomed the completion of the driver programme with enthusiasm. “I’m excited to welcome Zhou to Cadillac Formula 1 Team. He will be an excellent addition to complement Valtteri and Checo; talented, personable and respectful of the hard work and commitment it will take for us to achieve our ambitions.”
“I’m excited by our complete driver line-up – alongside Colton, we have a hungry, fast and collaborative group to make our 2026 debut.”
