Every Ferrari reserve driver who went on to get a full-time F1 race seat after Zhou Guanyu signing

Follow us on Google Discover

Ferrari have announced that Zhou Guanyu will serve as the team’s reserve driver in the 2025 season behind Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton.

The Chinese driver has spent the last three years at Sauber, scoring just 16 points as he struggled towards the back of the field. He did get to compete in his home race in Shanghai in 2024 where Zhou was given a hero’s welcome in front of a packed-out grandstand.

Sauber confirmed the 25-year-old would leave the team along with Valtteri Bottas at the end of 2024. Zhou’s ‘trojan’ effort in Qatar scored the Hinwil-based outfit their only points of the season.

With Bottas going on to join Mercedes as their reserve driver for 2025, many wondered if his Sauber teammate would also remain in F1. Liberty Media were keen to keep Zhou in F1 due to his popularity in Asia.

A return to Alpine was rumoured while Red Bull changed their minds about signing Zhou as their reserve driver. In the end, Zhou has returned to Ferrari having been a part of their driver academy.

Sharing the role with Antonio Giovinazzi, many will wonder if Zhou will get to drive for Ferrari in 2025. The Chinese driver has already had experience in F1, but before him, many predecessors were afforded their chance in the sport after serving as the team’s reserve driver.

Every Ferrari reserve driver who went on to land a full-time race seat in F1

Having raced for the likes of Lola, Minardi and Forti in the 1990s, Luca Badeor served as Ferrari’s test and reserve driver from 1998 until 2010.

After Felipe Massa was injured in a crash in Hungary, the Italian took his place at Valencia and Spa, finishing at the back in both races before being replaced by Giancarlo Fisichella.

Massa himself was a Ferrari reserve driver in 2003 after he was dropped by Sauber the year prior. He returned to the Hinwil-based outfit in 2004 and went on to race 13 more seasons with the likes of Ferrari and Williams, winning 11 races.

READ MORE: All you need to know about Scuderia Ferrari from team principal to factory

Jules Bianchi was Ferrari’s test and reserve driver in 2011 before joining Marussia in 2013. The talented Frenchman had been tipped to race for the Maranello outfit before he tragically lost his life following a crash at Suzuka in 2014.

Bianchi’s godson Leclerc currently races for Ferrari having been their reserve driver in 2016 – two years before his move to Sauber. The Monagasque driver was replaced by Antonio Giovinazzi – who is still a Ferrari reserve driver to this day – ahead of his move to Sauber (later Alfa Romeo) from 2019-2021.

Ferrari’s latest young talent Oliver Bearman was the team’s reserve driver last season and was handed his F1 debut in Jeddah in place of the ill Carlos Sainz. The Brit will remain in the role as he embarks on his first full season with Haas in 2025.

Zhou Guanyu is eyeing a return to F1 in 2026

Zhou will be doing some vital work behind the scenes at Ferrari in the simulator and will likely be used for commercial events with the team’s sponsors.

There is a chance the Chinese driver could make a sub appearance for either Hamilton or Leclerc in 2025 if one falls ill.

READ MORE: Zhou Guanyu’s life outside F1 from height to net worth

But the 25-year-old will be eyeing a possible return to a full-time race seat in 2026. Zhou himself says his chances are ‘very high’ for a return to F1 next season.

A move to Cadillac seems the most likely option for Zhou, given the American team are searching for an experienced driver.

Cadillac will also run Ferrari engines in the first few years in F1 before bringing their own power unit in 2030 – giving Zhou a clear connection to the team and a way in for 2026.