Ferrari and Zhou Guanyu part ways ahead of 2026

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Ferrari has officially confirmed that it will no longer retain Zhou Guanyu as its reserve driver for the 2026 Formula 1 season.

The 26-year-old Chinese racer, who spent 2025 alongside Antonio Giovinazzi in a support role, departs the Maranello outfit after a year on standby following his exit from Sauber at the end of 2024.

“Grateful for Zhou Guanyu’s commitment and contribution as Ferrari Reserve Driver this season! Wishing him all the best ahead,” Ferrari wrote in a social media statement, signaling a clean break with the Shanghai native.

A Season on the Sidelines

Zhou’s time as a Ferrari reserve driver offered him a chance to remain close to the F1 paddock while seeking a race seat for 2026, with his sights set on the newly arriving Cadillac F1 team.

At the start of last year, Zhou acknowledged the pressures of staying relevant in the sport.

“There are many new players, and F1 is a very brutal sport. If you don't show your skills and mental toughness within a short period of time, it's easy to be eliminated,” he said.

“I will definitely wait for any opportunities.”

Zhou Guanyu with Graeme Lowdon.

At the time, the Chinese driver also addressed speculation linking him to Cadillac, which appointed Graeme Lowdon – a figure with ties to Zhou’s management – as team principal:

“I'm really happy, of course, that Graeme is the principal of Cadillac, but that doesn’t mean I’m definitely linked with the team because, at the end of the day, the overall decision is taken by different people,” Zhou clarified.

Read also: Steiner tips Bearman as Ferrari’s next big bet after Hamilton

Zhou, who remains the only Chinese driver to have competed in Formula 1, now faces a critical juncture in his career.

After a spell the Ferrari Driver Academy from 2014 to 2018 and three season in F1, he must chart a new path if he wants to return to the grid in a full-time racing capacity at some point in the future.

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.