The driving force axed by Ferrari simply days in the past has already discovered a brand new employer.
A former Ferrari racers has joined a rival group (Picture: Getty)
Zhou Guanyu has joined a brand new group after the announcement that he had left Ferrari after simply 12 months. The Chinese language racer had joined the Scuderia after shedding his System 1 race seat with Sauber, serving as back-up to Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc over the course of the 2025 season.
However final week it was confirmed that he’ll not be affiliated with Ferrari going ahead. The Italians as an alternative look set to go into the brand new marketing campaign with Antonio Giovinazzi, one other former Sauber F1 driver who lately represents Ferrari within the World Endurance Championship, as their primary reserve following Zhou’s exit.
Because it seems, Zhou’s exit happened as a result of he has landed himself a brand new function for the upcoming marketing campaign. On Monday, new outfit Cadillac confirmed that China’s first ever F1 racer has been signed because the group’s official reserve forward of its maiden World Championship marketing campaign.
His arrival was little question facilitated by his robust relationship with group principal Graeme Lowdon, who was a part of Zhou’s administration group earlier than he took the Cadillac job. He additionally reunites with Valtteri Bottas, who was his team-mate at Sauber till they have been each axed on the finish of 2024.
The 26-year-old racer stated: “I’m delighted to hitch the Cadillac System 1 Group as a reserve driver forward of its System 1 debut. This is likely one of the greatest and most fun new initiatives that the game has ever seen.
“I’ve labored with each Graeme and Valtteri for a few years in numerous capacities, so becoming a member of the group appears like rejoining household. Having had latest expertise on monitor and in growing the automobiles off monitor, I do know I can add enormous worth to the Cadillac System 1 Group, and I’m trying ahead to supporting them one of the simplest ways that I can.”
Zhou can be on standby in case both of Cadillac’s first race drivers, Bottas and Sergio Perez, are unavailable to drive for any purpose at a race in 2026. He can be first-choice reserve forward of Colton Herta, the previous IndyCar racer who has switched to compete in System 2 to earn a superlicence which might qualify the American to race in F1, who additionally has a check driver function with Cadillac.
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Zhou’s swap was additionally facilitated by the working relationship Cadillac have with Ferrari. The American outfit hopes to be working with its personal engines from 2028 however, till its energy unit amenities are up and working, has struck an engine buyer take care of Ferrari to keep away from any delay by way of their entry onto the grid.
Group principal Lowdon stated: “Our course of for choosing a reserve driver has been as thorough because the seek for our race drivers. We needed a candidate who had latest F1 driving expertise, is ready to work laborious as a part of a group and understands the challenges of growing a automobile all through the season. Zhou suits the invoice completely. He can be an important asset to us as we go racing in 2026 and we look ahead to him being an integral a part of our group.”
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