Zhou and Giovinazzi named Ferrari F1 reserve drivers

Giovinazzi will dove-tail his WEC Hypercar commitments with Ferrari while attending F1 races, with Zhou set to attend all the Grand Prix weekends as a backup for Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc who spearhead the team 2025 campaign.

For Zhou, the move marks a return to familiar territory, having been part of the Scuderia Ferrari Driver Academy between 2015 and 2018. The Shanghai-born driver made history as the first Chinese racer in Formula 1, competing for Alfa Romeo from 2022 to 2023 before staying with the team under its Kick Sauber branding in 2024. Across 68 Grand Prix starts, Zhou has scored 16 points and twice recorded the fastest lap in a race.

Born on 30 May 1999, Zhou joined Ferrari’s driver academy in 2015 after transitioning from karting. During his time with the programme, he raced in Formula 4 and Formula 3 before parting ways with Ferrari at the end of 2018. He then progressed to Formula 2, securing five race wins and 20 podiums over three seasons, which ultimately led to his Formula 1 debut in 2022.

Giovinazzi and Zhou will share reserve driver duties, the Italian has been affiliated with Ferrari since 2017. The Italian will balance his Formula 1 responsibilities with his racing commitments in the FIA World Endurance Championship, where he continues to compete in the No. 51 Ferrari 499P. Giovinazzi remains a key part of Ferrari’s endurance racing programme, having triumphed in the 2023 Le Mans 24 Hours.

Ferrari now has two experienced drivers in its reserve lineup as it prepares for the 2025 F1 season.