Former F1 star to get a shot with Cadillac in Barcelona
Formula One can be a tough sport, and drivers can lose their spot very quickly, so they always need to be at their best at every race. Over the years, many drivers have shown promise but couldn’t quite make a big name for themselves in F1 because they missed key chances. Some then fade away or move to other motorsports to keep racing, never getting another shot in F1.
But now, there’s one driver who raced in F1 from 2022 to 2024 and is about to get a new opportunity behind the wheel of the Cadillac at the Barcelona Grand Prix. Zhou Guanyu, Cadillac’s reserve driver, will take part in testing at Barcelona. The team boss, Graeme Lowdon, shared why he made this choice with GPBlog.
He said, “I know he’ll be excited to drive the new car and see how it feels. He’s spent a lot of time on the simulator and comes to all the Grand Prix. I’ve watched Zhou’s whole F1 career, and I’d have no problem putting him in the car if one of our race drivers had a problem—though we hope that won’t happen. This test is a great chance for us to see how he does, and I’m confident he’ll do well.”
Zhou has made it clear he wants to stay in F1. After his contract with Sauber ended in 2024 without being renewed, he gave himself a year to find another team. He will become a test driver for Ferrari in 2025 and race for Cadillac this year. Even if he impresses, Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas have long deals with Cadillac, so his chances to race there are low. But other teams will be watching, so this is a big chance for him to shine not just at Cadillac but across F1.