\n<\/p>\n
China’s Zhou Guanyu is to be one of two Ferrari reserve drivers in 2025.<\/b><\/p>\n
The 25-year-old, who was dropped by Sauber at the end of last season after three years with the Swiss team, joins Italian Antonio Giovinazzi.<\/p>\n
Zhou, who was a member of the Ferrari driver academy from 2015 to 2018, will support race drivers Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc.<\/p>\n
Reserve drivers typically do simulator work to assist the race team, including over race weekends as teams work to perfect their car set-up, and perform selected testing duties, including tyre tests.<\/p>\n
This week, though, Ferrari are using Hamilton and Leclerc to conduct a tyre test for Pirelli on 4 and 5 February at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. McLaren are also at the test, with Lando Norris driving on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
The test is a further opportunity for Hamilton to continue his familiarisation work with his new team, after crashing during a test in the 2023 car last week<\/a>.<\/p>\n Both teams are assisting Pirelli with development work on its 2026 tyres, and Ferrari are using a 2024 car modified to simulate expected performance levels following the introduction of new engine and chassis rules next year.<\/p>\n On Tuesday, Hamilton competed 87 laps, Leclerc 86 and Norris, in a modified 2023 car, 159. Norris was fastest, followed by Hamilton and Leclerc. Headline lap times are irrelevant because the drivers were completing different programmes.<\/p>\n Zhou scored 16 points for Sauber in 68 grands prix for the team.<\/p>\n Giovinazzi has been part of the Ferrari driver roster since 2017 and raced for Alfa Romeo from 2019-21, scoring 21 points in 62 starts.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n