Ferrari Confirms Zhou's Departure as Lawson Reveals Ricciardo Calls

The F1 silly season is already in full swing, with Ferrari confirming the departure of reserve driver Guanyu Zhou. Meanwhile, Liam Lawson has opened up about his conversations with Daniel Ricciardo, shedding light on the internal dynamics at Red Bull during a turbulent 2025 season. These moves signal significant driver market adjustments as teams gear up for the 2026 campaign under new regulations.

Why it matters:

Driver lineups and reserve driver roles are crucial pieces of the F1 puzzle, impacting team strategy and future talent pipelines. Zhou's exit marks the end of his F1 journey for now, while Lawson's insights into Ricciardo's struggles offer a rare glimpse into the human element and intense pressure within a top team like Red Bull. These developments are key indicators of how teams are reshaping their driver strategies for the new era.

The details:

• Zhou Departs Ferrari: Guanyu Zhou has officially left his role as a Ferrari reserve driver. He joined the Scuderia in 2025 after a three-season stint with Sauber, where he scored 16 points across 68 Grand Prix starts.
• Lawson on Ricciardo: Liam Lawson revealed he spoke "quite a bit" with Daniel Ricciardo during the latter's difficult 2025 season. Lawson himself replaced Ricciardo mid-2024, only to be demoted after two races in 2025.
• Red Bull Rebrand: Red Bull Racing unveiled a new team logo for 2026, its first season in partnership with Ford following the conclusion of its deal with Honda.
• FIA Departure: FIA Deputy Race Director Claire Dubbelman has left the governing body for a new role with Saudi Arabia's national motorsport federation after nearly nine years with the FIA.

Looking Ahead:

As teams finalize their driver rosters and branding, the focus now shifts to the 2026 cars. Racing Bulls team principal Alan Permane highlighted the universal challenge all teams face: balancing the timing of car development. "The later you develop your car, the faster it will be," Permane noted, pointing to the critical strategic decisions being made behind the scenes before pre-season testing begins later this month.