Ferrari announce Zhou F1 return to crucial role

Ferrari has confirmed a new reserve driver for the upcoming F1 season, signing Zhou Guanyu to the squad for the new campaign. Zhou will share reserve duties with Antonio Giovinazzi, who has held the role for several years alongside his race seat for the Italian squad in the World Endurance Championship. Zhou exited the F1 grid at the end of the 2024 season following a three-year stint at Sauber, which ran under the Alfa Romeo and Stake monikers during his stay. The 25-year-old bagged 16 championship points across his three seasons as a full-time driver. As he seeks a return to the grid in 2026, Zhou has signed back to the Ferrari family having been part of its junior team for a number of seasons in the mid-to-late 2010s. “Welcoming Zhou Guanyu back to the Ferrari family as he joins Antonio Giovinazzi as our official reserve driver,” read a short statement from Ferrari.  “Zhou spent four years with the Scuderia Ferrari Driver Academy from 2015 to 2018, and will split reserve driver duties with Antonio for the 2025 season.” Zhou will be on hand to step in for Lewis Hamilton or Charles Leclerc at the team should he be needed this year. Ferrari was forced to rely on its reserve driver Oliver Bearman last year when Carlos Sainz was forced to miss the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix due to illness.