Zhou Guanyu

Zhou Guanyu (Chinese: 周冠宇; pinyin: Zhōu Guànyǔ, pronounced [ʈʂóʊ kwân.ỳ]; born 30 May 1999) is a Chinese racing driver, who serves as a reserve driver in Formula One for Ferrari. Zhou competed in Formula One from 2022 to 2024, and remains the only Chinese driver to compete in Formula One.

Born in Shanghai, Zhou began karting aged eight before moving to Sheffield in 2012 to compete internationally. Graduating to junior formulae in 2014, Zhou finished runner-up in the 2015 Italian F4 Championship. After three seasons in the FIA Formula 3 European Championship, as well as a development driver role in Formula E for Techeetah in 2017–18, Zhou competed in the FIA Formula 2 Championship from 2019 to 2021 for Virtuosi, finishing third in his final season.

A member of the Ferrari Driver Academy from 2014 to 2018, and the Alpine Academy—formerly the Renault Sport Academy—from 2019 to 2021, he served as a test driver for Renault and Alpine in 2020 and 2021, respectively. Zhou signed for Alfa Romeo in 2022 to partner Valtteri Bottas, scoring his first career point on debut at the Bahrain Grand Prix. Retaining his seat for his 2023 campaign, he scored further points finishes in Australia, Spain and Qatar. He remained at the re-branded Sauber in 2024, where he scored the team's only points finish with the C44—at the Qatar Grand Prix—before leaving at the end of the season, having achieved two fastest laps and 16 championship points in Formula One.

Zhou Guanyu was born on 30 May 1999 in Shanghai, China. Having started karting when he was eight years old in China, Zhou moved to Sheffield in 2012 for a more competitive racing environment, where he attended Westbourne School.

In 2013, racing with the Sheffield-based Strawberry Racing team, he won both the Super 1 National Rotax Max Junior Championship and Rotax Max Euro Challenge. For his final year of karting, Zhou finished 2nd in the Rotax Max Senior Euro Challenge and participated in selected rounds of WSK Champions Cup and the KF2 European Championship. He also made his first and only appearance in the Karting World Championship, driving for Ricky Flynn Motorsport alongside Lando Norris and Jehan Daruvala.

Zhou joined Prema Powerteam for the 2015 Italian F4 Championship. After winning all three races in Round 2 at Monza and consistently finishing on the podium, Zhou ended the season as vice-champion and best rookie. He also competed in selected rounds of the German ADAC F4 Championship, achieving two podium finishes in Spielberg and Spa.

Zhou joined team Motopark for the 2016 FIA European F3 Championship. After a successful season opener rounds in Paul Ricard and Hungaroring by finishing in 2 podium positions, Zhou struggled to find pace during the 2nd half of the season, finishing in 13th for his maiden season.

Zhou stayed for a second F3 season by rejoining Prema and improved to 8th in standings with 5 podium finishes. Season highlights included leading race 3 in Spa and holding back Lando Norris in the penultimate round.