Ferrari have confirmed that they have axed an F1 star from their driver line-up for the 2026 seson as the Prancing Horse look to recover from a nightmare campaign last year
Ferrari have confirmed the exit of Zhou Guanyu as their reserve driver.
The Chinese driver had been backup to Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc in the 2026 campaign, but will no longer remain in the position as Ferrari announced on Friday that they have severed ties.
“Grateful for Zhou Guanyu’s commitment and contribution as Ferrari Reserve Driver this season! Wishing him all the best ahead,” the team posted on social media via its official accounts. Zhou held the position for just one year, recruited as a backup driver for the 2025 season after he lost his seat on the grid following three years racing for Sauber.
He split reserve responsibilities last year with Antonio Giovinazzi, stepping in for the Italian whenever an F1 race weekend conflicted with a World Endurance Championship event. Giovinazzi, also a former Sauber F1 driver, competes for Ferrari in WEC and claimed the title alongside teammates Alessandro Pier Guidi and James Calado.
When both were available, it was evident that Giovinazzi was the favoured option to substitute in F1 racing if required over Zhou.
At the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, when Leclerc missed media day due to illness and his involvement in the race weekend was uncertain, it was reported that Giovinazzi was the one on standby despite Zhou also being present at Imola.
Besides serving as a capable backup whenever Giovinazzi was unavailable, Zhou’s involvement also proved financially beneficial to Ferrari. The 26-year-old enjoys substantial sponsorship support from his native country, where he’s a massive star due to his distinction as China’s first and so far only F1 driver in the sport’s history.
Zhou’s next move remains uncertain, though he suggested in an Instagram post that he might seek to stay within the F1 paddock in a different capacity if possible. The Chinese driver posted: “Really appreciated all the trust throughout the season. See you guys around in 2026.”
Regarding Ferrari, the major uncertainty surrounding their drivers entering the new campaign concerns what lies ahead for seven-time world champion Hamilton.
The Briton, who celebrates his 41st birthday next week, suffered a disastrous debut year in red as his dream move to the Scuderia became a nightmare, and he’ll be eager to reverse his fortunes in the upcoming season.
Should he fail to achieve this, it might mark the veteran’s final campaign on the F1 grid. It’s believed that Hamilton possesses a contractual clause enabling him to extend his tenure until 2027, though it appears doubtful he would opt for this if only further disappointment awaits in his pursuit of an eighth F1 drivers’ championship.