Cadillac Formula 1 Team Signs Zhou Guanyu As Test Driver

And then there were three.

Formula 1 veteran Zhou Guanyu has signed as test driver with the Cadillac Formula 1 Team, where he will be working alongside primary drivers Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez.

Zhou was the first Chinese driver to make it to Formula 1 and he spent three years with the Ferrari-powered Sauber organization from 2022 through 2024. He was a product of the Ferrari Driver Academy and spent 2025 with the team as a reserve driver.

“I am delighted to join the Cadillac Formula 1 Team as a reserve driver ahead of its Formula 1 debut. This is one of the biggest and most exciting new projects that the sport has ever seen,” Zhou said in a news release.

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“I have worked with both Graeme [Lowdon, Cadillac Formula 1 Team Principal] and Valtteri for many years in various capacities, so joining the team feels like rejoining family. Having had recent experience on track and in developing the cars off track, I know I can add huge value to the Cadillac Formula 1 Team, and I am looking forward to supporting them the best way that I can.”

Cadillac will be using Ferrari power units for its first three seasons and his experience on the Formula 1 grid and familiarity with the Italian automaker should prove invaluable to the startup Cadillac operation.

“Our process for selecting a Reserve Driver has been as thorough as the search for our race drivers,” Lowdon said. “We wanted a candidate who had recent F1 driving experience, is prepared to work hard as part of a team and understands the challenges of developing a car throughout the season. Zhou fits the bill perfectly. He will be a great asset to us as we go racing in 2026 and we look forward to him being an integral part of our team.”

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Zhou will also be working alongside American test driver Colton Herta, who will be competing in the Formula 2 series to gain experience on the tracks that Formula 1 races on. Herta’s goal is to step up to the Formula 1 team when a seat opens up. Herta was on a recent episode of The GAS podcast discussing his busy 2026 season, which includes three endurance races for the Cadillac Wayne Taylor Racing IMSA team.

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