Chinese driver Zhou Guanyu misses out on Cadillac F1 team seat for 2026

On the evening of August 26th, Beijing time, Cadillac Racing, the newcomer to the 2026 F1 grid, officially announced its inaugural driver lineup: Mexican driver Sergio Perez and Finnish driver Valtteri Bottas will partner up for the team's inaugural F1 season. This announcement dashes Chinese driver Zhou Guanyu's hopes of a comeback. As the only Chinese national currently competing in F1, Zhou was previously widely considered a top contender for a Cadillac driver seat, but now stands to lose the chance.

1. New Team Selection: Prioritizing Experience, Aiming for a "Quick Start"

Cadillac's selection of two veterans reflects its strategic considerations for adapting to the intense competition of F1. Although the 40-year-old Bottas failed to score points during his 2024 season with Sauber (the team ultimately chose not to renew his contract), his career résumé is impressive: having served as a key driver for Mercedes for five years, he amassed 10 F1 Grand Prix victories and 32 podium finishes, demonstrating a deep understanding of the car setup and tactical execution logic of top teams. This season, he remains in the paddock as a Mercedes reserve driver, maintaining his familiarity with the F1 rhythm.

The 34-year-old Perez is a return to the track: in the second half of the 2024 season, he was released early by Red Bull Racing due to significant fluctuations in form, and has been unemployed since then. However, his career record of 39 podium finishes and 6 Grand Prix wins, particularly his experience working as a team alongside Verstappen at Red Bull, has become a key advantage valued by Cadillac. "They know how to win in F1, and they understand how to help a new team quickly establish competitiveness," a Cadillac team representative stated in the official announcement. The selection of these two individuals was intended to reduce the "trial and error costs" for newcomers, helping the team quickly adapt to the rules and tune the car for the 2026 season, achieving the goal of "stability from the start."

2. Zhou Guanyu: The "Return Dilemma" of the Only Chinese Driver

For Zhou Guanyu, missing out on a Cadillac seat is undoubtedly a major setback in his return to F1. Following the 2024 season, he failed to reach a contract renewal with Sauber, ending his two-season F1 career. He has since remained in the paddock as a simulator driver for the Ferrari F1 team. While this role allows him to gain exposure to core F1 technology, it prevents him from competing on the track.

Previously, the outside world viewed Cadillac as Zhou Guanyu's "best springboard" because new teams often seek drivers with both market value and competitive potential. Zhou Guanyu, as a representative of the Chinese market, could bring significant commercial attention to a new team. Furthermore, his race experience accumulated over the past two seasons (2022-2024) was also considered a promising fit for a new team. However, the final results showed that Cadillac prioritized "competitive experience," and Zhou Guanyu ultimately lost out to his two more experienced rivals.

3. 2026 Seats Remaining: Zhou Guanyu's Chances Are Slim

With Cadillac's seat now confirmed, only four of the 22 race seats for the 11 teams in the 2026 F1 season remain to be determined: two each for Mercedes and RB (Toro Rosso), and one each for Alpine and Red Bull. However, these remaining seats are virtually impossible for Zhou Guanyu to secure. All of the aforementioned teams boast mature youth development programs: Mercedes boasts rising British star George Russell (currently a key player) and a pipeline of young drivers. RB has long focused on developing new talent from the Red Bull team, while Alpine and Red Bull also tend to promote their own promising internal players.

Given the current landscape, Zhou Guanyu, lacking a top-tier team's youth development background and having been out of the race rhythm for the past season, has no advantage in the competition for these seats. Industry analysts believe that if Zhou Guanyu fails to secure another opportunity in the short term, he will likely miss out on a 2026 F1 race seat, potentially putting an end to his F1 career and potentially facing a prolonged absence from the track.