The Cadillac F1 team continues to shape its first season on the grid with the hiring of Zhou Guanyu as a reserve driver for 2026. Backed by General Motors and TWG Motorsports, the team had revealed in August 2025 that Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Pérez would be its drivers.
Chinese driver Zhou joins the line-up alongside Bottas and Perez, as well as test driver Colton Herta, who is set to compete in Formula 2 with Hitech in 2026.
Cadillac F1 team enlists Zhou Guanyu as reserve driver for 2026
Shanghai-born Zhou Guanyu arrives with a substantial F1 CV. He is China’s first and only F1 driver, and was formerly a reserve driver for Ferrari in 2025. He made his debut with Alfa Romeo in 2022, scoring points on his first outing in Bahrain and adding further points finishes across the season.
He remained with the team through 2023 and into its rebrand as Kick Sauber in 2024, where he delivered the outfit’s only points of the year at the Qatar Grand Prix. In total, Zhou has started 68 Grands Prix.
His appointment also aligns with Cadillac’s technical future — with Scuderia Ferrari supplying power units and gearboxes from 2026, Zhou’s recent Ferrari reserve work is directly relevant. During 2025 he undertook simulator duties, trackside support and Testing of Previous Cars programmes, giving him up-to-date insight into modern F1 machinery and development processes.
Before F1, Zhou built a junior career, finishing third in the 2021 F2 championship with five wins and 20 podiums across three seasons. The same year, he won the F3 Asian Championship and earlier claimed victories in both the Formula 3 European Championship and Italian Formula 4, where he was runner-up in 2015.
“I am delighted to join the Cadillac Formula 1 team as a reserve driver ahead of its Formula 1 debut. This is one of the biggest and most exciting new projects that the sport has ever seen,” said Zhou.
“I have worked with both Graeme [Lowdon] and Valtteri [Bottas] for many years in various capacities, so joining the team feels like rejoining family. Having had recent experience on track and in developing the cars off track, I know I can add huge value to the Cadillac Formula 1 Team, and I am looking forward to supporting them the best way that I can.”
Team Principal Graeme Lowdon underlined the practical thinking behind the choice: “Our process for selecting a reserve driver has been as thorough as the search for our Race Drivers. We wanted a candidate who had recent F1 driving experience, is prepared to work hard as part of a team and understands the challenges of developing a car throughout the season. Zhou fits the bill perfectly. He will be a great asset to us as we go racing in 2026 and we look forward to him being an integral part of our team.”
“I’m excited to welcome Zhou to Cadillac Formula 1 Team. He will be an excellent addition to complement Valtteri and Checo; talented, personable and respectful of the hard work and commitment it will take for us to achieve our ambitions. I’m excited by our complete driver line-up – alongside Colton, we have a hungry, fast and collaborative group to make our 2026 debut,” said Dan Towriss, CEO of Cadillac Formula 1 Team Holdings.
With its reserve role now filled by a current, well-versed Formula 1 driver, Cadillac’s first year as a Formula 1 operation has begun on an ambitious footing.
(Hero image credit: Cadillac F1/ Instagram; Featured image credit: Cadillac F1)
Note : The information in this article is accurate as of the date of publication.