Cadillac gives Zhou another chance; he will debut in Barcelona with the American team

Zhou is scheduled to take part in a Pirelli tyre test in Barcelona with Cadillac after Barcelona-Catalunya GP. "I know he'll be excited to get behind the wheel and just sample the new car," team principal Graeme Lowdon told, among others, GPblog.

"He's spent a lot of time doing simulator work, and obviously he comes to all the Grand Prix. I said before, right at the start, obviously I've seen Zhou’s entire Formula 1 career, I would have no qualms whatsoever of putting him in the car if we had a problem with one of the race drivers. Obviously we hope we don't need to do that," said Lowdon, who was previously the Chinese driver’s manager.

For Zhou, it will be his first time in the MAC-26 after extensive running in the simulator. "I think he’ll relish it," Lowdon is convinced. "It's a good opportunity for us to see how he performs on that test, and I'm sure he'll do very well."

Zhou is currently on the sidelines for a second season in a row. After his contract with Sauber wasn’t renewed, he stated he wanted to secure a full-time place in the sport within a year. His experience as a Ferrari reserve driver could have helped, but after a year with the Italians, there was again nothing available, apart from a reserve driver spot at Cadillac.

Perez and Bottas have long-term contracts there, so the chances with the Americans are slim. Moreover, Colton Herta is waiting in the wings to eventually replace one of the veterans.