Formula 1 on Friday announced a five-year extension with the Chinese Grand Prix, Afrosport reports.
This new development, which was announced at the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, will ensure the Shanghai International Circuit remains on the F1 calendar through the 2030 season.
Formula 1’s organisers revealed that the extension is in line with its successful return to China after a five-year absence due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
F1 extends deal with Chinese Grand Prix until 2025 #ChineseGP 🇨🇳 #F1 pic.twitter.com/H9xzRzNoLR
— Formula 1 (@F1) November 6, 2021
The sport has reportedly seen a massive boost in followership in China over the years, with an estimated fanbase of over 150 million people, and data has shown that half started showing interest in Formula 1 in the last four years, with a whopping 50% highlighted as women.
President and CEO of Formula 1, Stefano Domenicali, is pleased with the “levels of support” the sport has garnered over the years. He said: “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.
“Shanghai is an incredible city, and the racetrack is a wonderful test for our drivers, so I am delighted that Formula 1 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.”
The Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai will be the second race on the 2025 F1 calendar after Australia, with the event scheduled for 21-23 March, and will double as host of the first F1 Sprint event of the season, as well as the first round of F1 ACADEMY.
The Chinese Grand Prix kicked off in 2004, with Brazilian Rubens Barrichello emerging victorious in the inaugural race. Since then, nine other winners have emerged, with Lewis Hamilton claiming a record six victories, while Max Verstappen won this year’s edition in April as about 200,000 spectators watched along.
