Zhou: Cadillac the best opportunity to be back behind the wheel

Zhou spent the 2025 F1 season on the sidelines in a reserve role for Ferrari, which, according to Graeme Lowdon, played a role in Cadillac's decision to sign him.

Speaking to the Formula 1 Official Website after being announced as Cadillac's 2026 reserve, Zhou said: “Firstly, I'm really excited for this new project.

“The main thing is that with this new team, I know, for example, Graeme [Lowdon], Valtteri, and also a lot of engineers that work in the team.

"Over the course of this year, I’ve seen how the team was setting up, and I really felt the future is bright.

“They're not setting up a team just to be on the grid—they're setting up a team trying to compete. They have a mission target to try to achieve over the years and to bring Cadillac to a top midfield team and so on onwards, so that's what really attracted me.

“On the other side, I think the team [saw] what I was able to do over the course of last year and what my role was, and I think it can really benefit both sides."

While Colton Herta came on board as a testing driver, Zhou is the only reserve driver for Cadillac and has the benefit of the experience amassed over three seasons of F1 racing with Sauber with Bottas as his teammate.

He said: "So to be the team's only reserve driver, I feel like this is the best opportunity for me in order to be back behind the wheel.

"At the same time I think what I am capable of bringing [in terms of] information, and, together with two very experienced drivers, it just brings the team forward.

“This year is a massive rule change, so all this knowledge, experience we’ve had over the years, this can be a help if you're comparing to a less experienced driver," he maintained.

Lowdon claimed Zhou's experience with Ferrari engines was one of the reasons behind his hiring, and the Chinese drivers echoed the same sentiments.

He commented: “Since this new era of Formula 1 introduced in 2022, I was only driving with Ferrari engines, which I got really used to.

"Also while I was testing development for Ferrari last season, I was also trying their 2026 engines, so all these things come into play together.

“I have a very precise idea and a feeling with feedback on how the engine, power unit, gearbox, everything works, and also the hydraulic system," Zhou maintained.