Freshly confirmed as Cadillac’s reserve driver for Formula 1’s bold 2026 entry, Zhou Guanyu has shed light on what convinced him to sign up with the American manufacturer’s ambitious project – and why he believes the move could be a springboard back onto the grid.
After a season on the sidelines with Ferrari following the loss of his Sauber race seat at the end of 2024, Zhou is returning to the F1 paddock in a meaningful role.
He will serve as test and reserve driver for Cadillac, supporting race drivers Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas as the General Motors-backed team prepares for its debut.
A Project with Purpose
For Zhou, familiarity played a role – but ambition sealed the deal. The 26-year-old knows several key figures within the organisation, including team principal Graeme Lowdon, who also happens to be his long-time manager.
Yet Zhou insists the appeal ran far deeper than personal connections.
“Firstly, I'm really excited for this new project,” Zhou told F1.com.
“The main thing is that with this new team, I know, for example, Graeme, Valtteri and also a lot of engineers that work in the team and, over the course of this year, I’ve seen how the team was setting up, and I really felt the future is bright.”
Zhou Guanyu with Graeme Lowdon.
What stood out most to Zhou was Cadillac’s intent – not simply to participate, but to compete.
“They're not setting up a team just to be on the grid – they're setting up a team trying to compete,” he said.
“They have a mission target, to try to achieve over the years, and to bring Cadillac to a top midfield team and so on onwards, so that's what really attracted me.”
A Two-Way Opportunity
Zhou is clear-eyed about what the role represents. On one hand, it’s his most direct route back to a full-time race seat. On the other, he believes Cadillac gains a reserve driver with recent, relevant Formula 1 experience at a time when that knowledge could prove crucial.
“I think the team [saw] what I was able to do over the course of last year and what my role was, and I think it can really benefit both sides,” he explained.
“So to be the team's only reserve driver, I feel like this is the best opportunity for me in order to be back behind the wheel, and at the same time I think what I am capable of bringing [in terms of] information and, together with two very experienced drivers, it just brings the team forward.”
©Cadillac
With sweeping regulation changes arriving in 2026, Zhou believes experience may matter more than ever.
“This year is a massive rule change,” he added. “So all this knowledge, experience we’ve had over the years, this can be a help if you're comparing to a less experienced driver.”
For Zhou, Cadillac represents more than a holding pattern – it’s a calculated move into a project he believes is building with intent, momentum and a clear vision of where it wants to go.
Read also: F1 paddock veterans say Cadillac could be a force in 2026
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