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Sports丨Grid locked: Shanghai secures five-year F1 extension

CHINADAILY · 公众号 · 时评 · 2024-12-09 11:31

正文

Formula One announced a five-year extension with the Chinese Grand Prix on Friday, ensuring the presence of Shanghai International Circuit on the calendar until the 2030 season.

Co-announced with Shanghai Jiushi (Group) Co Ltd, the promoter of the Chinese Grand Prix, Shanghai will be the second stop of the 2025 season, scheduled for March 21 to 23. It will also feature the year's first F1 Sprint race, along with the first round of the all-female F1 Academy.

The extension comes after F1's triumphant return to China in 2024 following a five-year hiatus, which drew 200,000 enthusiastic fans to witness Max Verstappen's dual triumph in both the Sprint and the Grand Prix.

▲ F1's return to China this year, following a five-year hiatus, drew 200,000 fans to Shanghai International Circuit. China Daily

Over the two decades since its establishment, the 5.45km Shanghai International Circuit has solidified its reputation as a beloved destination for drivers and fans alike.

Drivers value the unique challenges it presents, such as the progressively tightening Turns 1 and 2, as well as the high g-force Turns 7 and 8. Since Rubens Barrichello's victory in the inaugural race, the Chinese Grand Prix has seen nine other winners, including six wins by Lewis Hamilton and two by Fernando Alonso from the current grid.

"Our return to China this season for the first time since 2019 was a fantastic moment for the sport, and it is incredible to see the levels of support that we enjoy in the country continuing to grow year-on-year," said F1's president and CEO, Stefano Domenicali.

"Shanghai is an incredible city, and the racetrack is a wonderful test for our drivers, so I am delighted that Formula One will continue its successful partnership with the Chinese Grand Prix for a further five years. I want to thank our promoter for their continued commitment and passion, and I look forward to returning to Shanghai in the new year," Domenicali added.

This extension signifies F1's ongoing expansion in China, reflecting the sport's increasing popularity and expanding audience.

The domestic fan base for F1 has surged to over 150 million, with more than half developing their interest in the sport in the last four years, and 50 percent of them being female. This growth is evident across various metrics, most notably in TV viewership, which rose by 39 percent in 2024 compared to the 2023 season average. Moreover, F1's presence on Chinese social media platforms has flourished, amassing a combined following of 4.4 million users across platforms such as Weibo, WeChat, Toutiao, and Douyin.

"For many years, Jiushi Group and our subsidiary, Juss Sports, have always adhered to our original intention to strive for the excellence in event organization, and this renewal is a testament to that. It is excellent news for fans in China, and is a perfect platform to showcase Shanghai to the world, as millions tune in globally," said Jiushi Group Chairman, Guo Jianfei.

As one of the country's premier recurring international events, the F1 Chinese Grand Prix has played a pivotal role in fostering the integrated growth of Shanghai's cultural, sports, and tourism sectors, yielding substantial economic advantages.

During this year's Chinese Grand Prix, hotel reservations in Shanghai surged by 63 percent compared to the corresponding period last year, and propelled the Shanghai International Circuit to the fourth most popular attraction in the city on several domestic travel platforms.

In terms of audience composition, 70 percent of domestic attendees hailed from regions outside Shanghai, while international visitors constituted 10 percent, marking a two-decade high.

"We fully understand that a successful Grand Prix is not only an exciting race event, but also a driving force for the whole of society to develop in a more positive direction. In the future, we will continue to optimize the event experience and attempt to achieve a sustainable contribution to society through innovative means.

"Looking ahead, we will continue to work closely with all partners, further strengthen our engagement with international audiences through the event platform, consistently improve the event quality, and better present the charm of Shanghai," Guo stated.

Reporter: He Qi