The team that entered Formula 1 this year has announced the signing of Guanyu Zhou as reserve driver for the 2026 season, given that Colton Herta, who will compete in FIA Formula 2, does not yet have the required points to obtain a Super Licence.
The news had been in the air for several days, ever since Ferrari announced the departure of the driver. Today, Cadillac Formula 1 officially confirmed the signing of Guanyu Zhou as its reserve driver.
The Chinese driver joins the new team, the eleventh on the grid, which will make its debut in the Formula 1 World Championship in just a few weeks during the closed-door tests scheduled to take place at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya in Montmeló.
The 26-year-old held the same role at Ferrari last season, but without having the opportunity to make his race weekend debut in the iconic red overalls. Having left Maranello just a few days ago, a new chapter now begins for the Chinese driver with the team led by Graeme Lowdon.
Zhou will work alongside the two race drivers, Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez, both of whom returned to Formula 1 after spending a season watching their colleagues compete. Perez spent that time away from the paddock, while Bottas held a role at Mercedes, which also involved supporting the development of Andrea Kimi Antonelli.
The team’s structure also includes Simon Pagenaud and Pietro Fittipaldi, both assigned to simulator testing duties, as well as Colton Herta, Cadillac’s third driver. However, in 2026 the American will compete in FIA Formula 2 to collect the Super Licence points he currently lacks. As things stand, Herta has not yet obtained the licence and would therefore be unable to replace either Perez or Bottas should one of them be unavailable.
“I am pleased to join the Cadillac Formula 1 team as reserve driver ahead of its Formula 1 debut,” said Guanyu Zhou, who scored a total of 16 points during his three seasons in F1.
“This is one of the biggest and most exciting projects this sport has ever seen. I have worked with Graeme and Valtteri for many years in different roles, so joining the team feels like being reunited with my family.”
“Thanks to my recent on-track experience and my work on car development away from the circuit, I know I can bring significant added value to the Cadillac Formula 1 team, and I am looking forward to supporting it in the best way possible.”
“Our process of selecting a reserve driver was just as thorough as the search for our race drivers,” said Lowdon, who previously served as team principal of Virgin Racing in Formula 1 between 2010 and 2011 and of Marussia from 2012 to 2015, teams that are now no longer on the grid.
“We wanted a candidate who had recent Formula 1 driving experience, was ready to work hard as part of a team, and understood the challenges involved in developing a car throughout the season.”
“Zhou is perfect for this role. He will be a great asset for us during the 2026 season, and we look forward to him becoming an integral part of our team.”
By securing Guanyu Zhou, Cadillac F1 bolsters its 2026 debut with a driver who offers both recent Grand Prix experience and a deep technical understanding of modern machinery, providing a vital safety net while Colton Herta pursues his Super License in Formula 2.
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