The new Cadillac Formula 1 team has officially rounded out its driver roster for 2026 by signing Zhou Guanyu as their reserve driver. This move feels like a homecoming for Zhou, as he will be working once again with Valtteri Bottas and team principal Graeme Lowdon. While Zhou will not be on the starting grid this year, his role is much more important than just being a backup. He is the technical bridge between Cadillac and Ferrari, and his experience will be vital for a team starting from scratch. This matters because it shows Cadillac is not just looking for fast drivers; they are looking for people who understand how a top tier team operates.
Zhou could actually be a better fit than most think he is
Cadillac is entering the sport at a very complicated time. The 2026 season introduces massive changes to the car and engine rules, and Cadillac will be using engines and gearboxes supplied by Ferrari. This is where Zhou becomes a major asset. He spent the 2025 season as the reserve driver for Ferrari, where he worked closely with Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc.
Because he has spent a year inside the Ferrari factory, he knows exactly how their systems work. He can provide Cadillac’s engineers with firsthand knowledge of how the engine responds and how the software should be set up. For a brand new team, having someone who can speak the “language” of their engine supplier is like having a cheat code. It saves months of trial and error and helps the team get up to speed much faster than a typical newcomer would.
The Zhou-Bottas reunion
One of the biggest hurdles for any new project is building chemistry between the staff. Cadillac has solved this by reuniting Zhou with Valtteri Bottas. The two were teammates at Sauber for three years, and they are known to have a very positive and respectful relationship. In a high pressure environment like a debut season, having drivers who already trust each other is a huge advantage.
Zhou’s manager is also Graeme Lowdon, the man who is now leading the Cadillac team. This existing trust means there will be no “political” games in the garage. Zhou can focus entirely on simulator work and technical feedback, knowing that his input is valued. He mentioned that joining Cadillac feels like “rejoining family,” and that kind of stability is exactly what a new team needs to survive the intense 24 race calendar.
What does this mean for Zhou?
For Zhou, this role is a strategic move to stay in the spotlight. He is still only 26 years old and remains the only Chinese driver to ever compete in Formula 1. By taking the reserve seat at Cadillac, he ensures that he is the first person in line if one of the regular drivers cannot race.
More importantly, it keeps him in the paddock and in front of the cameras. We have seen drivers like Nico Hülkenberg and Alex Albon use reserve roles to prove their value and earn a spot back on the grid. By working with a high profile project like Cadillac, Zhou is making sure that team bosses do not forget his name when seats open up for 2027 or 2028. He is playing the long game, staying sharp and ready for whenever his next big chance arrives.
