Zhou Guanyu joins Antonio Giovinazzi as Ferrari reserve driver

New role for former Sauber man

Chinese driver Zhou Guanyu’s time in the F1 wilderness has quickly come to an end after being announced as Ferrari’s reserve driver for the 2025 season.

The 25 year old departed Sauber at the end of last season along with teammate Valtteri Bottas, with the pair being subsequently replaced by Niko Hulkenberg and newcomer Gabriel Bortoleto. This is the final season the team will be known as Sauber before the takeover of Audi in 2026.

Coming home

The move sees Zhou return to the Prancing Horse, having spent four years with the Scuderia Ferrari Driver Academy from 2015 to 2018, where he competed in Formula 4 and Formula 3. After a successful period in Formula 2 following his departure from Ferrari, he went on to become the first driver from China to compete in F1 when he joined Alfa Romeo in 2022, staying with the team for three years in total - along with the change to Sauber in 2024. He amassed 16 points from 68 race starts, also setting two fastest laps.

Giovinazzi stays on

Italian driver Antonio Giovinazzi will share the reserve driver position with Zhou, continuing his time at Ferrari, which began back in 2017.

Giovinazzi’s biggest success in red came at the 2023 Le Mans 24 Hours, where he triumphed in the number 51 Ferrari 499P. He will continue to race in the World Endurance Championship for Ferrari in 2025.

Giovinazzi driving an SF15 T at Fiorano in 2017

words: Mike Booth
picture: Ferrari