Ferrari confirm line-up change as F1 driver axed ahead of 2026 season | F1 | Sport

Ferrari have confirmed the departure of Zhou Guanyu as their reserve driver. The Chinese racer had been backup to Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc in the 2026 campaign, but will no longer continue to serve in the role as Ferrari announced on Friday morning that they have parted ways.

“Grateful for Zhou Guanyu‘s commitment and contribution as Ferrari Reserve Driver this season! Wishing him all the best ahead,” the team wrote on social media via its official accounts. Zhou was in the role for just one year, hired as a backup racer for the 2025 season after he lost his place on the grid after three years driving for Sauber.

He shared reserve duties last year with Antonio Giovinazzi, covering the Italian whenever an F1 race weekend clashed with a World Endurance Championship event. Giovinazzi, also a former Sauber F1 driver, races for Ferrari in WEC and won the title along team-mates Alessandro Pier Guidi and James Calado.

Whenever both were available, it was clear that Giovinazzi was the preferred candidate to step in to race in F1 if needed over Zhou. At the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, when Leclerc missed media day through illness and his participation in the race weekend was in doubt, it was confirmed to Express Sport that Giovinazzi was the one on standby despite Zhou also being present at Imola.