P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Ferrari has announced that Guanyu Zhou has departed his role as the team’s test and reserve driver ahead of the upcoming F1 season.
Ferrari confirmed Zhou Guanyu’s departure as their test and reserve driver for the upcoming Formula 1 season, following his loss of a race drive with Sauber in 2024. Zhou had previously been part of the Ferrari academy from 2014 to 2018 before rejoining as a reserve alongside Antonio Giovinazzi. With hopes of securing a full-time seat with the new Cadillac team in 2026, Zhou’s chances were dashed as the team selected Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez. Despite his manager being Cadillac’s team boss, Zhou expressed his desire to avoid remaining a reserve driver long-term, emphasizing the need to seize opportunities in Formula 1. Zhou had disclosed receiving interest from multiple F1 teams before his return to Ferrari.
