Source: REUTERS/Rula Rouhana
[Saba Sports News] The FIA officially announced a five-year extension for the Chinese Grand Prix, allowing the Shanghai International Circuit to remain on the F1 calendar until the 2030 season. The agreement for this extension is attributed to F1’s return to China in 2024 after a five-year hiatus. During the 2024 event, 200,000 enthusiastic fans attended to witness Max Verstappen win both the sprint race and the main race. Over the past 20 years of hosting F1 races, the Shanghai International Circuit has been favored by drivers and fans for its unique 5.45-kilometer track. To date, the F1 Chinese Grand Prix has produced ten champions, with Lewis Hamilton winning six times and Fernando Alonso twice. Statistics show that the number of F1 fans in China has exceeded 150 million, with more than half having begun following F1 in the past four years, and female fans making up 50% of this audience. In addition, other metrics related to F1 in China show strong growth trends. For instance, the average number of television viewers for the 2024 season has increased by 39% compared to 2023; the total number of fans on online platforms like Weibo, WeChat, Toutiao, and Douyin has reached 4.3 million, with an annual increase of over 1 million.