Cadillac now fear ‘negative publicity’ if they announce Sergio Perez’s ‘most likely’ F1 back-up

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Cadillac continued to take steps to prepare for the team’s F1 debut in 2026 by running a test for Sergio Perez in a 2023-spec Ferrari, but their plans are not complete just yet.

The General Motors brand ticked another item off their checklist this Thursday, when Perez ventured onto the track at Imola driving a Ferrari SF-23 on his first outing as a Cadillac driver. Valtteri Bottas could not take part at Imola due to his ongoing Mercedes reserve driver role.

Perez’s Testing of Previous Car (TPC) run in a two-year-old Ferrari was also Cadillac’s on-track debut ahead of the American crew joining the grid in 2026. Cadillac do not have a car of their own to test so they struck a deal with Ferrari, who will supply their engines in 2026.

Around 20 team members were present at Imola alongside Ferrari’s mechanics, as Perez set a fastest lap time of a 1:18.82 during Cadillac’s test. The 35-year-old has taken up a vital role in preparing Cadillac for their debut since signing a multi-year contract with them in August.

Zhou Guanyu is the leading candidate to be Cadillac’s 2026 F1 reserve driver

Cadillac signed Bottas and Perez on two-year contracts to secure two hugely experienced F1 drivers for their debut in 2026. But team principal Graeme Lowdon and Cadillac F1 CEO Dan Towriss are still yet to sign a reserve driver who can step in for Bottas and Perez if required.

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

Nine-time IndyCar race winner Colton Herta has joined Cadillac as a test driver and will race in F2 in 2026. But Autosport Web reports that Cadillac are struggling to sign a reserve driver who has a valid FIA superlicence, needed to race in F1, and has ‘serious’ recent experience.

Cadillac ‘sources’ have indicated that ex-Sauber driver Zhou Guanyu is now the ‘most likely’ option for them to hire as a 2026 F1 reserve driver. But the GM brand may not announce his hiring to avoid any ‘negative publicity’ from the US automotive giant having a Chinese driver.

Lowdon and Towriss rejected hiring Zhou to sign Bottas and Perez as Cadillac’s 2026 F1 race drivers. But his 68 Grands Prix starts for Sauber from 2022 to 2024 and experience as an F1 reserve for Ferrari in 2025 now puts the 26-year-old at the top of Cadillac’s reserve shortlist.

Zhou Guanyu will know the Ferrari F1 engine and gearbox that Cadillac will use in 2026

Cadillac had explored signing Jack Crawford as a 2026 F1 reserve driver, but the 20-year-old American has chosen to stay at Aston Martin to deputise for Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll. Crawford ranks second in the 2025 F2 standings, 19 points behind Leonardo Fornaroli.

READ MORE: All to know about General Motors’ Cadillac F1 team from engine to drivers

So, Cadillac are now looking at further utilising their ties with Ferrari by taking on Zhou as an emergency back-up for Bottas and Perez. Autosport Web also notes that Zhou could serve as a reserve driver for Haas in 2026, as well, with the American crew also a Ferrari customer.

Zhou would boast the benefit of already understanding the Ferrari engine and gearbox that Cadillac will run in 2026, should the Shanghai native agree to also serve as their F1 reserve. Ferrari added Zhou to their reserve driver roster this season after he lost his seat at Sauber.

Audi chose against retaining Bottas and Zhou from Sauber’s 2024 line-up in favour of hiring rookie Gabriel Bortoleto to partner with Nico Hulkenberg ahead of the German brand taking the team over in 2026. Zhou registered Sauber’s only points in 2024 for four of his career 16.