Zhou Guanyu has revealed that Ferrari is a “really interested” party in securing his services as a Reserve Driver in 2025 with the Chinese driver admitting he’s talking to “several” Formula 1 teams.
Zhou’s full-time career in F1 has come to a temporary halt after three seasons with Sauber and 2024 was the toughest of the lot.
The Chinese driver scored the squad’s only points with eighth place in the penultimate round of the campaign in Qatar.
Zhou learnt ahead of the Las Vegas Grand Prix that he was being replaced at Sauber by Gabriel Bortoleto next year but told select media including Motorsport Week that plans were already in motion for 2025.
“We’re talking to several teams and, of course, Ferrari remains one of the teams really interested in me,” Zhou revealed.
“We need to see, obviously there’s a lot of things coming up with the next few weekends for us to make a decision, but it’s clear we are going through all the options we have and seeing where we are.
“From my side, I don’t want to commit to the future just yet because I want to make sure everything is set down and is clear, and have a massive commitment to the next project.
“Hopefully something will be happening and decided soon.
“I think somewhere around the next few weeks I will have a clear idea.”
Why a Ferrari reserve role makes sense for Zhou Guanyu
Ferrari has yet to confirm its Reserve Driver options for 2025 and has remained coy on the subject of Zhou joining the team.
The Italian outfit has gaps to fill in its Reserve Driver pool thanks to the departures of Oliver Bearman and Robert Schwartzman.
Bearman has signed a race contract with Haas and Schwartzman cut ties with the Scuderia to join Prema’s IndyCar project.
In light of this, a deal with Zhou makes sense for multiple reasons.
Firstly, Zhou has been a part of the Ferrari set-up before as a member of its Driver Academy from 2014 to 2018.
Moreover, the Chinese driver was signed to Sauber in 2022 when Vasseur was still at the helm of the Hinwil-based project.
For Zhou, a deal with Ferrari has multiple benefits beyond being just a Reserve Driver.
It would give him the possibility to take part in a race programme within the Scuderia’s Hypercar project and it provides a potential pathway to a full-time F1 drive.
Zhou is managed by Cadillac Team Principal Graeme Lowdon and the American marque has just signed to be a Ferrari engine customer in 2026 and ’27.
Should a Reserve Driver role materialise with Ferrari next year, circumstances could put him in pole position for a race seat at Cadillac a year later.
READ MORE – Zhou Guanyu expected to land Ferrari F1 reserve driver role for 2025 – report
