What's happened
Formula One has announced a five-year extension for the Chinese Grand Prix at the Shanghai International Circuit, set for March 21-23, 2025. This comes as the sport aims to grow its fanbase in China, which now boasts 150 million followers, despite the absence of its first Chinese driver, Zhou Guanyu, next season.
Why it matters
What the papers say
According to the South China Morning Post, Formula One's CEO Stefano Domenicali expressed delight at the sport's growing support in China, stating, "Shanghai is an incredible city and the racetrack is a wonderful test for our drivers." Meanwhile, AP News highlighted the significance of Zhou Guanyu's absence next season, noting that he was a major draw during the recent race weekend. The Independent also emphasized the importance of the Chinese market, citing the impressive fanbase growth over the past four years.
How we got here
The Chinese Grand Prix returned to the Formula One calendar in 2024 after a five-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The previous contract was set to expire in 2025, prompting the recent extension announcement.
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Formula One is the highest class of international single-seater auto racing sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile and owned by the Formula One Group.
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Stefano Domenicali is an Italian manager and the current CEO of Formula One Group, replacing Chase Carey. He is the former CEO of Italian sports car manufacturer Lamborghini from 2016 to 2020.
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Guanyu Zhou is a Chinese racing driver, currently competing in the FIA Formula 2 Championship for UNI-Virtuosi Racing. As part of the Alpine Academy, he currently serves as the test driver for the Alpine F1 Team.
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The Chinese Grand Prix is a round of the Formula One World Championship. It is currently held at the Shanghai International Circuit, Jiading, Shanghai, designed by Hermann Tilke.
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The Shanghai International Circuit (simplified Chinese: 上海国际赛车场; traditional Chinese: 上海國際賽車場; pinyin: Shànghǎi Guójì Sàichēchǎng) is a motorsport race track, situated in the Jiading District, Shanghai. The circuit is be
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Zandvoort is a municipality in the province of North Holland, Netherlands. It is one of the major beach resorts of the Netherlands; it has a long sandy beach.