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July 27, 2026Sources cited
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Sports • Formula One

Zhou Guanyu

Zhou Guanyu is a Chinese racing driver from Shanghai who became the first Chinese driver to compete in Formula One.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 27, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Zhou Guanyu is a Chinese racing driver from Shanghai who became the first Chinese driver to compete in Formula One. He raced in Formula One from 2022 to 2024 with Alfa Romeo and Kick Sauber. In 2025, he moved to a reserve-driver role with Ferrari and later joined Cadillac as a reserve driver ahead of its debut season in 2026.

Early life and background

Zhou Guanyu was born in Shanghai, China, on 30 May 1999. Some sources also note that he was raised in Sheffield, England.

Junior racing career

Before reaching Formula One, Zhou raced in junior single-seater categories and earned results in Formula 4, Formula 3 and Formula 2. He was the Asian F3 champion in 2021 and finished third in the FIA Formula 2 Championship that same year.

Formula One career

Zhou made his Formula One debut with Alfa Romeo in 2022 and remained in the category through 2024 with the team’s later Sauber branding. He became the first Chinese driver to compete in Formula One.

Reserve-driver roles

After leaving the grid, Zhou moved into reserve-driver duties. He worked with Ferrari in 2025 and then joined Cadillac as reserve driver for 2026.

Key facts

  • Zhou Guanyu is the first Chinese driver to start a Formula One Grand Prix.
  • He competed in Formula One from 2022 to 2024 with Alfa Romeo and Kick Sauber.
  • He joined Cadillac as a reserve driver ahead of the team’s first Formula One season in 2026.
  • He was born in Shanghai on 30 May 1999.
  • Before Formula One, he raced in junior categories including Formula 2 and Formula 3, where he achieved strong results.
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Canadian context

Zhou Guanyu is relevant to Canadian readers through Formula One’s global fan base and international driver line-up, but there is no strong Canada-specific connection in the provided sources.

Frequently asked questions

Who is Zhou Guanyu?
Zhou Guanyu is a Chinese racing driver best known as the first Chinese driver to compete in Formula One.
When was Zhou Guanyu born?
He was born on 30 May 1999 in Shanghai, China.
Which Formula One teams did Zhou Guanyu race for?
He raced for Alfa Romeo and later Kick Sauber from 2022 to 2024.
What is Zhou Guanyu’s most notable milestone?
He became the first Chinese driver to start a Formula One Grand Prix.
What is Zhou Guanyu doing now?
He is listed as a reserve driver for Cadillac ahead of its 2026 Formula One debut season.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zhou_Guanyu
    Supports: Birth date, birthplace, Formula One participation, and status as first Chinese F1 driver.
  2. Formula 1 — https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/zhou-guanyu-joins-cadillac-as-reserve-driver-for-2026.60APa9pUgXOshTcDPXr4Rd
    Supports: Cadillac reserve-driver role for 2026 and prior Alfa Romeo/Kick Sauber career.
  3. Formula 1 — https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/beyond-the-grid-zhou-guanyu-on-racing-his-heroes-as-chinas-first-full-time.23feuz4VPiR4DIdrwt8rCL
    Supports: First Chinese full-time Formula One driver and historical significance.
  4. Formula 1 — https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/zhou-shares-the-great-honour-he-will-take-from-his-time-in-f1-after-kick.dYD1CdnjzUW2TDLHOJvnm
    Supports: Junior-category achievements and F1 career context.
  5. RacingNews365 — https://www.racingnews365.com/drivers/guanyu-zhou
    Supports: Birth date, birthplace, race number, debut and last race, and F1 team history.