The first Chinese driver in Formula 1 is heading back to Ferrari as one of its reserve drivers for the 2025 season.

Ferrari has history of looking to recent F1 drivers to support its race team line-up, having worked with Giovinazzi — the driver Zhou replaced at Sauber in 2022 — in recent years. The team announced last year that one of its reserves, Robert Shwartzman, would not be returning in 2025 after his move into IndyCar.

Ferrari announced their reserve drivers for the upcoming season on Wednesday, pairing current reserve Antonio Giovinazzi with Zhou. This is a homecoming for Zhou, who was a member of the Ferrari Driver Academy from 2015 to 2018 while competing in the F4 and F3 ranks.

Ferrari appointed Zhou Guanyu as a Formula One reserve driver on Wednesday after the Chinese lost his race seat with Swiss-based Sauber.

Here’s a wild headline we published today : F1 teenager Kimi Antonelli just got his driver’s license — right on time to replace Lewis Hamilton. You read that right. Antonelli didn’t even have a road license when he was picked as the successor to one of F1’s greatest drivers last fall. Have I ever mentioned that this is a silly sport?

Zhou Guanyu has rejoined Ferrari as one of its reserve drivers, following his departure from Sauber at the end of the 2024 season. The Chinese driver was originally part of the Ferrari Driver

The 25-year-old will split the role of supporting Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc with Italian Antonio Giovinazzi.

China's first F1 driver raced for 3 seasons with Sauber, starting 68 races and scoring 16 points with 2 fastest laps. Read more at straitstimes.com.

Zhou Guanyu confirmed as Ferrari driver for 2025 F1 season - Ferrari have added to their ranks ahead of Lewis Hamilton’s debut in scarlet red in Australia next month

Guanyu will share his reserve driver duties with Antonio Giovinazzi at Ferrari, who are looking to build on their second-place finish in the constructors' championship last year