Ferrari have made adjustments to their driver plans forward of the 2026 System 1 season.
Ferrari have confirmed a driver change forward of the 2026 season (Picture: Getty)
Ferrari have confirmed the departure of Zhou Guanyu as their reserve driver. The Chinese language racer had been backup to Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc within the 2026 marketing campaign, however will now not proceed to serve within the position as Ferrari introduced on Friday morning that they’ve parted methods.
“Grateful for Zhou Guanyu’s dedication and contribution as Ferrari Reserve Driver this season! Wishing him all the very best forward,” the crew wrote on social media by way of its official accounts. Zhou was within the position for only one 12 months, employed as a backup racer for the 2025 season after he misplaced his place on the grid after three years driving for Sauber.
He shared reserve duties final 12 months with Antonio Giovinazzi, masking the Italian every time an F1 race weekend clashed with a World Endurance Championship occasion. Giovinazzi, additionally a former Sauber F1 driver, races for Ferrari in WEC and received the title alongside team-mates Alessandro Pier Guidi and James Calado.
Each time each have been obtainable, it was clear that Giovinazzi was the popular candidate to step in to race in F1 if wanted over Zhou. On the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, when Leclerc missed media day by sickness and his participation within the race weekend was unsure, it was confirmed to Categorical Sport that Giovinazzi was the one on standby regardless of Zhou additionally being current at Imola.
In addition to being helpful cowl for every time Giovinazzi was not obtainable, Zhou’s presence was additionally profitable to Ferrari from a monetary standpoint. The 26-year-old has vital backing from sponsors in his homeland, the place he is a large celeb because of his standing as China’s first and, to date, solely F1 driver in historical past.
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As for Ferrari, the massive query mark round their drivers heading into the brand new marketing campaign is what the long run holds for seven-time world champion Hamilton. The Brit, who turns 41 subsequent week, endured a wretched first 12 months in pink as his dream swap to the Scuderia changed into a nightmare and he shall be determined to show his scenario round within the new season.
If he fails to take action, it might be the veteran’s final on the F1 grid. It’s understood that Hamilton has a contract clause which permits him to unilaterally prolong his keep into 2027, although it appears unlikely that he would select to do this if there may be solely extra distress to come back in his quest for an eighth F1 drivers’ title.
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