Ferrari has formally introduced that Zhou Guanyu will tackle the position of the workforce’s reserve driver for the 2025 Components 1 season, supporting their star lineup of Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton.
Zhou, who has spent the previous three seasons competing with Sauber, has endured a troublesome stint in the back of the grid, accumulating simply 16 factors over that interval. Regardless of his struggles, he loved a profession spotlight in 2024 when he had the chance to race in entrance of a passionate residence crowd in Shanghai, receiving a hero’s welcome from an enthusiastic Chinese language fanbase.
Sauber confirmed that each Zhou and his teammate Valtteri Bottas can be leaving the workforce on the conclusion of the 2024 marketing campaign. Zhou’s dogged efficiency in Qatar, the place he secured the one factors of the season for the Swiss outfit, underscored his willpower and ability.
With Bottas securing a job as Mercedes’ reserve driver for 2025, hypothesis mounted over whether or not Zhou would stay concerned in F1. Liberty Media, keen to take care of the game’s presence within the Asian market, was eager on holding him within the paddock. Whereas a return to Alpine was rumored, and Crimson Bull briefly thought of signing him as a reserve driver earlier than reversing their choice, Zhou in the end discovered his means again to Ferrari, having beforehand been a part of their driver academy.
Sharing reserve duties with Antonio Giovinazzi, questions stay over whether or not Zhou would possibly get the possibility to drive for the Maranello workforce in 2025. Whereas he already has F1 race expertise, historical past has proven that a number of Ferrari reserve drivers have later secured full-time seats within the sport.
Ferrari Reserve Drivers Who Secured Full-Time F1 Seats
Throughout the Nineteen Nineties, Luca Badoer competed for groups reminiscent of Lola, Minardi, and Forti earlier than changing into Ferrari’s check and reserve driver from 1998 to 2010. His long-standing position with the workforce ultimately led to 2 race outings in 2009 when he changed the injured Felipe Massa at Valencia and Spa. Nonetheless, his performances have been underwhelming, and he was quickly changed by Giancarlo Fisichella.
Massa himself first joined Ferrari as a reserve driver in 2003 after being dropped by Sauber. A yr later, he returned to a race seat with the Swiss outfit earlier than securing a full-time Ferrari drive in 2006, a partnership that lasted eight seasons and yielded 11 Grand Prix victories. His profession continued with Williams, the place he remained aggressive for a number of extra years.
One other promising Ferrari reserve driver was Jules Bianchi, who held the position in 2011 earlier than stepping as much as a full-time seat with Marussia in 2013. The proficient Frenchman was broadly anticipated to affix Ferrari sooner or later, however his profession was tragically minimize brief following a deadly crash at Suzuka in 2014.
Bianchi’s godson, Charles Leclerc, additionally adopted an analogous path. After serving as Ferrari’s reserve driver in 2016, he made his F1 debut with Sauber in 2018 earlier than incomes his place within the Ferrari lineup a yr later. His promotion noticed him exchange Antonio Giovinazzi, who himself later turned a Ferrari reserve driver earlier than securing a full-time drive with Alfa Romeo from 2019 to 2021.
Most just lately, Ferrari’s newest younger expertise, Oliver Bearman, held the reserve position in 2024. He made an sudden however spectacular F1 debut in Jeddah when he substituted for the unwell Carlos Sainz. Ollie Bearman will proceed on this position whereas additionally making ready for his first full-time F1 season with Haas in 2025.
Zhou’s Aspirations for a Full-Time Return in 2026
As Ferrari’s reserve driver, Zhou will contribute to the workforce’s simulator program and help with industrial engagements for the Scuderia’s sponsors. Ought to Leclerc or Hamilton be unable to race at any level in 2025, Zhou could also be referred to as upon to step in.
Wanting past the upcoming season, Zhou stays decided to reclaim a full-time F1 seat in 2026. He has expressed confidence that his probabilities of returning to the grid are ‘very excessive.’
A transfer to Cadillac seems to be essentially the most viable possibility, because the American outfit is in search of an skilled driver to guide their F1 challenge. Moreover, Cadillac will initially run Ferrari energy items earlier than transitioning to their very own engines in 2030, creating a transparent hyperlink between Zhou’s present Ferrari position and a possible future race seat with the brand new workforce.
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