Just hours after Ferrari officially said goodbye to Zhou, speculation erupted over the Chinese driver’s next move. A cryptic social media post from the Formula 1 newcomer has set the paddock abuzz with questions about whether Zhou could soon be back in the sport — if not on the grid, then at least working for a team.
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Time racing in Formula 1 with Sauber was difficult
Zhou Guanyu spent three seasons racing in Formula 1 with Sauber, but his time as a full-time driver was marked by limited competitiveness and few opportunities to shine. Across the 2022 and 2023 campaigns, Zhou finished 18th in the World Championship both times, scoring six points in each season.
His final year as a regular driver proved even tougher, yielding just one points finish and four championship points overall, leaving him no higher than 20th in the standings.
Despite showing flashes of consistency and professionalism, Zhou struggled to stand out in a midfield car that rarely allowed its drivers to compete at the front of the pack. When his Sauber tenure came to an end, a swift return to the grid seemed unlikely.
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A role at Ferrari kept hopes alive
In 2025, Zhou joined Ferrari as a test and reserve driver, sharing duties with Antonio Giovinazzi. While this kept him connected to Formula 1’s inner workings, Zhou made no secret of his ambitions. From the outset, he made it clear that his ultimate goal was to return to racing rather than remain on the sidelines long term.
His strongest potential route back appeared to be with Cadillac, the American manufacturer preparing to enter Formula 1. This possibility was strengthened by the presence of Zhou’s manager, Graeme Lowdon, who took on the role of team principal for the new project.
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Cadillac’s driver line-up reshaped expectations
However, Cadillac’s early driver announcements significantly shifted expectations. For the 2026 season, the team opted for proven experience by confirming Sergio Pérez and Valtteri Bottas, both Grand Prix winners with extensive top-team backgrounds, as its full-time race drivers. Additionally, IndyCar star Colton Herta was appointed as a test driver and will compete in Formula 2 as part of his preparation.
These choices seemed to rule out Zhou securing a race seat in the short term. However, they did not necessarily eliminate his chances of joining the project in another capacity.
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A cryptic hint has fuelled speculation
Rumours were reignited when Cadillac posted a mysterious image on social media featuring a cat’s eye — a subtle reference to the brand itself. On closer inspection, the image also contained the Cadillac logo and the number 24, as well as a date: 5 January. Notably, 24 is Zhou’s racing number.
The timing raised eyebrows. The post appeared just hours after Ferrari released a farewell message thanking Zhou for his contributions as reserve driver and wishing him well for the future. This coincidence has led many to suspect that an announcement involving Zhou and Cadillac could be imminent.
What role could Zhou play?
Even if a race seat remains out of reach, he could still secure a valuable position with Cadillac as a reserve, simulator or development driver, similar to his recent duties at Ferrari, but with clearer long-term prospects. Whether 5 January confirms these suspicions remains to be seen, but Zhou Guanyu may not have finished with Formula 1 just yet.
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NEXT ARTICLE – FIA plans to reduce the power of the manufacturers
There is grave concern at the FIA over how the all new 2026 Formula One power units will perform. In a desperate bid to prevent an epic failure in the racing spectacle, F1’s governing body convened an emergency meeting with the manufacturers in Bahrain to correct the ‘over optimistic’ power output from the hybrid side of the new engines.
Concerns were first raised by Christian Horner in 2023 that the all new specification of power units would create “Frankenstein monsters” due to an over reliance on electrical output. Almost two years later the FIA’s pow wow in Bahrain sought to address this issue.
The problem is that at a number of circuits where braking is limited and the straights are long, that the cars will be incapable of generating enough electrical charge to deliver the mandated 50% of power output.
Concerns electrical output overstated
This would result in cars ruing out of electrical charge towards the end of the straights, visibly slowing the cars as they approached the next turn. The spectacle could be disastrous for the fans and the series would descend into farce.
Yet any reduction in the amount of electrical output had to be agreed by all but one of the PU manufacturers and such agreement could not be found. The result was both the FIA and FOM issuing statements suggesting the current F1 power cycle could be truncated and a return to V*’s introduced before even 2030.
Foiled by their attempt to introduce what would be a mere software adjustment for all the teams, the FIA issued a dictate in August which outlined how they would prevent F1 becoming a farce or dominated by a single manufacturer who has aced the new PU regulations.
FIA director of day to day operations, Nicolas Tombazis revealed: “We’ve introduced a…READ MORE ON THIS STORY
Clara Marlowe is a Formula 1 writer at TJ13 with over 15 years of experience in motorsport journalism, having contributed features to established sports magazines such as Evo, MCN, Wisden Cricket Monthly and other digital outlets.
Clara specialises in human-interest storytelling, focusing on the individuals behind the sport, including drivers, engineers, and team personnel whose roles are often overlooked in mainstream coverage.
At TJ13, Clara contributes long-form features and narrative-driven pieces that explore the personal and professional journeys within Formula 1. This includes coverage of career-defining moments, internal team dynamics, and the human impact of high-pressure competition.
Clara’s work brings depth and perspective to the sport, complementing news and analysis with stories that highlight the people behind the machinery.
Clara has a particular interest in how personal narratives intersect with performance, and how individual experiences shape outcomes across a Formula 1 season.
