Formula 1 has officially confirmed a five-year extension for the Chinese Grand Prix, securing its place on the calendar through the 2030 season. This follows the sport’s successful return to the Shanghai International Circuit in 2024 after a five-year hiatus.
The Shanghai International Circuit, which first hosted a Formula 1 race in 2004, has become a favorite among both drivers and fans. The 5.45km track has seen memorable moments, including Rubens Barrichello’s victory in the inaugural race, and has been the site of multiple wins by F1 stars, including six from Lewis Hamilton and two from Fernando Alonso.
This extension highlights Formula 1’s continued expansion in China, where the sport’s popularity is soaring. F1’s fanbase in China has grown significantly, now surpassing 150 million, with over half of those new followers coming in the past four years. Notably, the sport’s appeal among women in China is also strong, with 50% of F1’s Chinese fanbase being female.
F1 has seen impressive increases across all metrics, with TV viewership in China up by 39% in 2024 compared to the previous year. The sport’s online presence has also surged, with F1’s social media channels in China gaining over 1 million new followers, bringing the total to 4.4 million across platforms like Weibo, WeChat, Toutiao, and Douyin.
The 2025 Chinese Grand Prix, set for March 21-23, will kick off with the first F1 Sprint of the season and will also feature the inaugural F1 Academy round.
Stefano Domenicali, President and CEO of Formula 1, praised the growing support in China, commenting, “Our return to China this season for the first time since 2019 was a fantastic moment for the sport. The levels of support continue to grow year on year, and we are thrilled to extend our partnership for another five years.”
Guo Jianfei, Chairman of Shanghai Jiushi Group and promoter of the Chinese Grand Prix, expressed enthusiasm about the extension. “This renewal is great news for fans in China and provides a fantastic platform to showcase Shanghai globally,” said Jianfei. “We will continue to improve the event quality and innovate, ensuring a positive societal impact and further strengthening our international reach.”
The ongoing partnership between Formula 1 and the Chinese Grand Prix underlines the growing importance of the event for both the sport and the host city, as they continue to build excitement for the future of motorsport in China.
