Ferrari has announced Zhou Guanyu as their official reserve driver for the 2025 season, taking up the role alongside Antonio Giovinazzi.
Zhou joins the team after a three-year stint at Sauber in which he scored a total of 16 points, earning his first on debut at the 2022 Bahrain Grand Prix.
He also contested his home Grand Prix in China for the first time in 2024, where Zhou was given a hero’s welcome by fans in his sold-out grandstands.
Zhou confirmed towards the end of the season that he would not be driving for Sauber, but said he was exploring his options. A return to Alpine was potentially on the cards, but Zhou has instead elected to move to Ferrari where he was once part of their Driver Academy.
Fans on social media have reacted to the news and are all saying the same thing after the team announced it on their Instagram page.
F1 Fans react to Zhou Guanyu Ferrari reserve driver announcement news
Zhou has a big fanbase in Asia having been the first-ever Chinese driver to contest a Grand Prix in F1 and score points.
He’s also well-liked by fans because of his fashion sense, while F1 owners Liberty Media were also keen to keep Zhou involved in F1 because of his popularity in China.
Fans have reacted in unison as the news that he will be involved with an F1 team, with one commenting: “THINGS WE LOVE TO SEE” while another wrote “that was not on my 2025 bingo card!”
Other fans were also happy with seeing Zhou back on the grid: “Good to still see him on the game” with another saying “SO SO HAPPY!!!”
One fan commented on how he is back in his former team’s colours, which also happen to be the colours of the Chinese national flag: “ZHOU BACK IN RED!” Other fans also sent their congratulations to Zhou: “That’s great news well done Zhou” while another wrote “SO HAPPY FOR ZHOU.”
Will Zhou Guanyu get a chance to drive again in F1 and will it be with Ferrari?
With Giovinazzi and Oliver Bearman also in Ferrari’s pool of drivers, there is some question over whether Zhou would get a race seat if Ferrari requires a stand-in for whatever reason.
The role of a reserve driver does encompass more than just being the super sub if a team is in need, as they will also work in the simulators and help contribute to the overall performance over a race weekend.
READ MORE: Zhou Guanyu’s life outside F1 from height to net worth
After Bearman did so well last year when he stood in for Carlos Sainz in Saudi Arabia, it is easy to see a scenario where Ferrari instead opt for the British driver and either Zhou or Giovinazzi fills in at Haas.
Haas is a technical partner of Ferrari and currently does not have a reserve driver named in its pool, despite using Pietro Fittipaldi for the last few years.
