Chinese motorsport star Zhou Guanyu has been appointed reserve driver for Cadillac's new Formula 1 team, marking a strategic move as the American constructor prepares for its inaugural season in 2026. The announcement comes three weeks before the season opener in Bahrain, with Cadillac leveraging Zhou's experience from 68 Grand Prix starts between 2022 and 2024.
The Shanghai-born driver will support race lineup Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas – his former Sauber teammate – while maintaining readiness to substitute throughout the 24-race calendar. Zhou's appointment continues China's growing influence in motorsport, following his historic 2022 debut as the nation's first full-time F1 competitor.
Cadillac's entry represents one of 2026's most anticipated technical partnerships, featuring Ferrari power units and gearboxes. Team principal James Vowles noted Zhou's "unique perspective bridging Asian and European racing circuits" will prove valuable in developing the new chassis.
While focusing on simulator work and track testing, Zhou remains available for potential race opportunities. His 2024 Qatar Grand Prix performance – securing Sauber's sole points that season – demonstrates the competitive edge he brings to Cadillac's engineering team.
