The young Chinese driver will serve as a reserve for the newly formed American team, but he is not hiding his ambitions to become a leading figure in the future.
Goodbye Ferrari
The news of his departure from Ferrari arrived right at the start of 2026, but it did not come as a surprise. Zhou Guanyu’s career is now set to continue with Cadillac, with the young Chinese driver nevertheless remaining on the sidelines as a reserve, watching the backs of the two race drivers even within the new American team. A reality that does not discourage Zhou, who in a long interview with the official Formula 1 website said he was enthusiastic about his future prospects and those of the team.
“I’m really happy about this new project. At Cadillac I already know Graeme Lowdon very well,” Zhou Guanyu said. “The team principal is also the head of Equals Management Ltd, the company that has managed my interests and my racing career so far. I also know Valtteri Bottas and many engineers who work within the team.”
Zhou Guanyu speaks
“They are not creating a team just to be on the grid,” the 26-year-old added, “but they have the objective of bringing Cadillac among the best teams in the midfield. And that is what really attracted me. On the other hand, I think the team has seen what I was able to do over the last year and what my role was, and I believe this can truly benefit both sides. Being the only reserve driver seems to me like the best opportunity to get back behind the wheel and, at the same time, I think that what I can contribute in terms of information, together with two very experienced drivers, can only help us grow.”
Zhou Guanyu’s technical background is also of a very high level, especially when considering his extensive knowledge of the Ferrari power unit, at least from a simulator perspective, which Cadillac will use until at least 2028.
“Since this new era of Formula 1 began, I have only driven with Ferrari engines and I’ve become very accustomed to them,” Zhou explained. “Last year I also tested the 2026 version, so I have a very clear idea of how the power unit works, the gearbox and even the hydraulic system. When you move from one engine to another, this is one of the most important things a driver has to adapt to, but as far as I’m concerned, I will already be up to speed. In any case, every manufacturer will improve over the years, so it won’t be about who starts ahead, but about who, over time, manages to dedicate more hours to development and gain the greatest benefits.”
Objective: returning as a full-time F1 driver
The clear objective, however, remains a return to a full-time Formula 1 seat as soon as possible. “It’s not something I think about every week. At the beginning of the season you focus only on the commitment you’ve made, and my current commitment is a completely new journey with Cadillac F1,” Zhou said.
“The final goal is to get back on track, but to achieve that, sometimes you need to wait a little. I will have to show the team what I can do over the weeks and months, giving my maximum effort. Sometimes opportunities come on their own, so I’m not rushing things too much. Normally the future is discussed a couple of weeks before the summer break, so for now I’m just trying to focus on the team.”
“Soon I will finally meet all the staff members and I feel relieved, in the sense that I will simply be able to go to the factory and to the simulator and start working hard,” Zhou Guanyu concluded.
As Cadillac enters the sport as a newcomer, having a driver with Zhou’s specific technical background could be the edge they need to bridge the gap to the established midfield. His journey will be one to watch throughout 2026, as he attempts to turn his technical contributions into a full-time racing comeback.
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