Zhou Guanyu an early candidate to join Cadillac F1

Zhou Guanyu put together a brilliant performance to finish 8th at the Qatar GP. Zhou’s points finish is not the only good news for the Chinese driver, who is understood to be an option for Cadillac F1 in 2026.

Why Zhou is well-positioned to negotiate with Cadillac F1 ahead of 2026

Like most drivers without a seat for next year, Zhou Guanyu welcomed the news of an 11th team in F1.

Heading into the 2026 season, Cadillac will be in negotiations with several drivers wanting to join their line-up.

As a driver with several years of F1 experience, Zhou is already a feasible option.

His latest result in Qatar (which came after a strong race in Vegas) was a reminder of what the 25-year-old is capable of in competitive machinery.

However, there is another critical factor that could boost his chances.

Zhou on Cadillac’s radar for 2026

According to Swiss outlet Blick, Graeme Lowdon is set to become Cadillac F1’s team principal.

This is significant for Zhou, because Lowdon is part of his management team.

Should Lowdon (who was formerly Marussia’s team principal) take the helm at Cadillac, this would be a massive boost for Zhou’s chances of returning to F1.

At this stage, there is still a long way before the American outfit decide on their 2026 line-up.

Even Colton Herta, whose links with Andretti are extremely strong, needs to secure the necessary Super License points before being eligible.

In this context, the road back to Formula 1 is a long one for Zhou Guanyu. There will be several drivers in talks with Cadillac over the coming months to secure a place on the grid.

With that said, things are coming together nicely for the Chinese driver. His reputation for being a solid, consistent driver is being improved with his strong end to the season.

Although Zhou would have preferred a more competitive package earlier in the year, he is capitalising immediately on his upgraded C44.

As he considers a reserve driver role for 2025, plenty more developments can be expected in the coming months.