Ferrari has chosen to place an axed F1 driver behind the wheel of their 2025 Formula One car. Pirelli, carried out a 2026 season wet weather tyre test at Ferrari's home circuit, Fiorano, to try out the intermediate and full wet tyre compounds.
Axed Formula 1 driver mans the controls of the 2025 car
For Thursday's test, it wasn't
Charles Leclerc or Lewis Hamilton who took the wheel.
Guanyu Zhou drove the SF-25 in representation of the Scuderia.
After his contract was not renewed at Sauber last season, the Chinese driver has started working as a reserve driver for Scuderia.
According to Ferrari's press release Zhou drove a total of 159 tours during the tyre test on Ferrari's home circuit, recording a fastest time of 59.820 on slicks. On intermediates, he clocked a time of 1:07.400.
The tests in Fiorano are not yet finished for Ferrari. On Friday, Charles Leclerc will be in action for Scuderia. Pirelli has not yet announced whether the Monegasque will test on intermediates and full wets like Zhou, or if it will involve a test on slicks.