China’s Zhou Guanyu is to be considered one of two Ferrari reserve drivers in 2025.
The 25-year-old, who was dropped by Sauber on the finish of final season after three years with the Swiss staff, joins Italian Antonio Giovinazzi.
Zhou, who was a member of the Ferrari driver academy from 2015 to 2018, will help race drivers Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc.
Reserve drivers usually do simulator work to help the race staff, together with over race weekends as groups work to excellent their automotive set-up, and carry out chosen testing duties, together with tyre exams.
This week, although, Ferrari are utilizing Hamilton and Leclerc to conduct a tyre take a look at for Pirelli on 4 and 5 February on the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. McLaren are additionally on the take a look at, with Lando Norris driving on Tuesday.
Hamilton and Leclerc continued to share the Ferrari on Wednesday, whereas Norris’ team-mate Oscar Piastri took over the McLaren.
The take a look at is an additional alternative for Hamilton to proceed his familiarisation work together with his new staff, after crashing throughout a take a look at within the 2023 automotive final week.
Each groups are aiding Pirelli with improvement work on its 2026 tyres, and Ferrari are utilizing a 2024 automotive modified to simulate anticipated efficiency ranges following the introduction of latest engine and chassis guidelines subsequent yr.
On Tuesday, Hamilton competed 87 laps, Leclerc 86 and Norris, in a modified 2023 automotive, 159. Norris was quickest, adopted by Hamilton and Leclerc. Headline lap instances are irrelevant as a result of the drivers had been finishing totally different programmes.
Zhou scored 16 factors for Sauber in 68 grands prix for the staff.
Giovinazzi has been a part of the Ferrari driver roster since 2017 and raced for Alfa Romeo from 2019-21, scoring 21 factors in 62 begins.
