Chinese driver Zhou Guanyu will take on the reserve driver role with Scuderia Ferrari alongside Italian Antonio Giovinazzi, the Maranello team announced on Wednesday.
Following a four-year journey with the Scuderia Ferrari Driver Academy before his debut in Formula One feeder series, the Formula 2 championship, Maranello welcomes back Zhou Guanyu, who will fulfill the reserve driver role alongside Antonio Giovinazzi for the 2025 season.
“Back to where it all started, thanks Ferrari for believing in me & can’t wait to start this new chapter together! #TeamZHOU,” the driver shared through social media.
The immediate future of the first driver from China to compete in Formula 1 was uncertain after Kick Sauber decided to part ways with its full-time driver lineup at the end of the 2024 season.
By rejoining Ferrari, the 25-year-old guarantees his place at the pinnacle of motorsport in a new role, supporting the Prancing Horse’s stellar driver pairing for 2025, featuring seven-time World Champion Lewis Hamilton and Monegasque racer Charles Leclerc.
Zhou transitioned to Formula 1 with Sauber, competing in the series under the Alfa Romeo branding. The Shanghai-born replaced Giovinazzi at the wheel of the C42 challenger ahead of the 2022 season.
And he got off to a promising start, scoring his first point in the series by finishing in 10th place at the Bahrain Grand Prix.
He remained with the outfit upon a contract extension agreement into 2023, partnering with Finn Valtteri Bottas.
Then, the squad powered by Ferrari was renamed Kick Sauber for the 2024 season, keeping its driver lineup unchanged.
Over three seasons, Zhou competed in 68 Grands Prix, scoring 16 points overall.
Last season, German car manufacturer Audi AG announced it would acquire 100 percent of the Sauber Group, set to become the Audi F1 factory team in 2026 when new technical rules will apply.
