Ferrari has confirmed Zhou Guanyu as its new reserve driver for the upcoming Formula 1 season. The Chinese driver, who lost his Sauber seat at the end of 2024, will share backup duties with Antonio Giovinazzi.

This move brings Zhou back to Ferrari, where he was part of the team’s junior programme earlier in his career. With his eyes set on a return to the F1 grid in 2026, joining Ferrari keeps him involved in the sport at a top level.

Previously, Zhou spent three years as a full-time driver with Sauber, racing under the Alfa Romeo and Stake names. He scored 16 championship points during that time, but Sauber, now transitioning into Audi’s works team, decided to go with a different driver lineup for 2025.

Despite stepping away from a race seat, Zhou made it clear last year that Ferrari was interested in signing him as a reserve. That interest has now turned into a confirmed deal, with Zhou stepping in to support Ferrari’s main drivers, Charles Leclerc and seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton.

He will work closely with Giovinazzi, who raced for Sauber between 2019 and 2021 before becoming Ferrari’s long-term reserve. The Italian has remained closely linked to the Italian team, balancing his F1 role with a successful stint in endurance racing, including a Le Mans 24 Hours victory in 2023. While still involved with Ferrari, he is also a candidate for Sauber’s own reserve driver spot in 2025.

While Zhou won’t get regular F1 track time, he could still drive in testing and promotional events. However, since he has already started 68 Grands Prix, he doesn’t qualify as a rookie and can’t take part in FP1 sessions under the rules. Even so, staying connected with Ferrari could help him find a way back to the grid in the future.