By: The goal is clear: to return to racing in Formula 1 as a full-time driver. To achieve it, Zhou Guanyu will do everything he can, driven by strong motivation and the experience gained during his time in the paddock with Alfa Romeo and Stake, as well as the year he spent at Ferrari as a reserve driver, where he was able to learn a great deal from a top team and a top driver such as Lewis Hamilton.
Now, to remain connected to the paddock, the Chinese driver is Cadillac’s reserve driver, having joined the team in 2026 after accepting the challenge of helping General Motors fight in the midfield in F1. Guanyu spoke to this writer in an exclusive interview about Cadillac’s development, the next challenges in his career and the lessons he learned at Maranello.
Zhou, you are the reserve driver for a new team such as Cadillac: how is the eleventh team on the grid progressing in its debut season?
"The key aspect of the project has been bringing together people who have worked for different teams in the past, drawing on the experience they can bring to a team starting from scratch. Everything here is new; we have not simply changed the name or transformed a previous team. That is why it is important to understand what needs to be done and define the strategy for the team’s future in every respect, from the facilities to the operational areas, so we can understand how and where to improve".
Are you happy with your role, which is important in helping a debuting team grow from the back of the grid?
"I am happy to be part of the Cadillac project as third driver. I really enjoy being able to give my feedback on this new generation of cars and the new regulations. I feel comfortable here and work with many people I had already worked with in the past: familiar faces in a new environment. It has been a good journey for me so far, but the team still has a long way to go".
Do you think it is more difficult to be a reserve driver at a new team or at an established one?
"Honestly, I do not see major differences. Here, there is more work to do in passing information on to the team. It is different from joining an already established team. In those cases, you follow a set path: you provide the necessary information, but you fit into an existing working methodology, adapt and have to work on yourself. Here it is different. From the first day, they have asked me a lot of questions. After testing and the various simulator sessions, we have long meetings to understand the critical issues and how to solve them each time".
Do you ever give feedback that aligns with that of the race drivers, Bottas and Perez?
"Yes, many times. When the team receives similar feedback from all three drivers regarding the car’s problems, it is clear that this is the area to address and improve. So I believe there is certainly more scope at Cadillac for me to make my contribution, which is positive because I keep working and developing. When you join a new team, you learn a lot as a driver; there are always areas where you can improve, also through discussions with the engineers and especially with the race drivers".
You said there are areas in which you are encountering difficulties. Are there, on the other hand, areas where you think the team is in good shape?
"I think the management of the weekend programme, the drivers’ schedules and the way meetings with the engineers are handled are areas that are managed very well. Of course, that is only one part of the work at the track, but I really appreciate the way activities are prepared and how internal communication takes place, both over the radio and through other channels".
But to perform well, you need a competitive car...
"Of course, we have to improve the car’s performance to make it more competitive and allow it to fight, perhaps in the midfield. We are not at that level yet, so there is plenty of room for growth in this area, but we have to deal with the budget cap: as a new team, you invest heavily in different areas and cannot focus on just one aspect. We are going through a process that takes time, but that is normal. You do not create a new team and start winning straight away".
Looking at your career, what do you see in the near future?
"I believe there is still a chance to return to the F1 grid. I will have to assess how things develop, but I think the opportunity exists for next year. I am doing my best to fight for it because I feel I still have something to offer. I want to show my value, to the public and to those in the sport. On the other hand, I love racing and want to race again: F1 remains my priority, but I will certainly consider other categories too".
Would any option be viable?
"Wait a moment, I mean other categories, and I am open to many options, but I like living in Europe and do not want to move to America. I have already experienced the transition from Chinese culture to European culture; I do not want to change again. I want to stay in the same environment. A lot will depend on the offers or on which environment I feel is ‘home’. But it is not something I am thinking about now; I will evaluate it, also because over the past two years I have received several approaches from teams in various categories. I really appreciate that interest. I am doing everything possible to return to the grid. If I cannot do that, I am open to continuing my career in another championship".
Last year, you were Scuderia Ferrari’s reserve driver: what did you learn from that experience at a top team?
"It was an extraordinary experience, not only because of the team’s stature, but also because I was previously part of the Ferrari Driver Academy. I know the people at Maranello well, and I really appreciated the respect they show when you do your job well, the way they value your contribution and the trust they give you. It was an honour to be selected to take part in Pirelli tests or in several race weekends as first reserve. Driving for Ferrari is every driver’s childhood dream: you grow up watching F1, become a Ferrari fan and want to be part of it".
What did you learn from the Scuderia?
"Observing their way of working represented a huge step forward compared with my previous F1 experience. If I had had that kind of experience earlier and known this approach, I would probably have experienced my years in F1 differently, especially in terms of communication with the team and weekend preparation. They have efficient methods that do not require an excessive amount of time, allowing you to focus solely on your work. That is why I am happy to be at Cadillac and bring this experience with me: I believe these are valuable elements for helping the team grow and offering useful advice to improve processes".
At Ferrari, you had the opportunity to work with Lewis Hamilton, the most successful driver in F1 history: what did you learn from him, both as a driver and in terms of mentality?
"Honestly, I think Lewis is very different when he is at the factory or in a technical meeting from how he is in public. He is very reserved and protective of his privacy. He wants to stay away from the chaos and remain focused on himself when he is in public. I understand that. But when he is at the factory or talking with the team, he is extremely direct. In that respect, he is very similar to Charles Leclerc. Perhaps they have different ways of asking questions, but their underlying approach is similar: they get straight to the point, they want to solve problems and, if the cause of those problems is their own mistake, they admit it without making excuses".
So Leclerc taught you a great deal too...
"Absolutely. I learned a lot from both of them, particularly about how to communicate with the engineers. They have different preparation methods, but they are both among the best drivers around and share the same determination to get the most out of themselves and the team. And I think that is crucial in this sport".
Thanks to Zhou Guanyu and Cadillac F1 Team for their availability. Partial reproduction of this exclusive interview is permitted provided the author (Alessio Ciancola) and Formula1.it are credited, with a link to the original content.
Cover photo x.com
