by sportswriters Dong Yixing and Xu Dongyuan

SHANGHAI, March 21 (Xinhua) -- Formula One president and CEO Stefano Domenicali has hailed Shanghai as a cornerstone of the sport's global future, reaffirming China's growing influence in F1's global strategy.

Starting in 2004 at the Shanghai International Circuit, the Chinese Grand Prix secured a five-year contract extension in December last year, ensuring its place on the calendar through 2030.

"Shanghai has incredible potential to develop the culture of F1 and motorsport in China," Domenicali told Xinhua on the sidelines of the 2025 Chinese Grand Prix. "Shanghai and China will be, for sure, at the center of our calendar in the future."

The renewal builds on the successful 2024 edition, which welcomed 200,000 fans following a four-year pandemic-induced hiatus. This year's race, as the second stop of the season after Melbourne, is already nearing sell-out status.

"This event has the potential to be two to three times bigger than what it is now," Domenicali projected bold ambitions, expressing confidence in China's market, where F1 said its fanbase has surged to over 200 million, half of whom are female, with younger, wealthier and more educated demographics driving engagement.

Following Shanghai's inaugural hosting of a Sprint race, the format remains for this weekend. "The feedback was very positive. That's why we're continuing it," Domenicali noted, emphasizing the format to maintain "great intensity" for fans.

This strategy aligns with broader efforts to deepen connections in China, where, according to F1 statistics, TV audiences increased by 35 percent in 2024, with over 100 million unique viewers, while social media followers on multiple Chinese platforms have surpassed 4.3 million.

According to Domenicali, promoting diversity is central to F1's localization strategy, particularly through initiatives like the all-female F1 Academy. With Shanghai staging that series' 2025 season opener and the tournament's Asian debut after its inaugural 2023 season, Shi Wei is set to make history this weekend as China's first F1 Academy racer.

"We believe in diversity, not only for drivers but engineers, mechanics and management," said the F1 chief, adding that Shi's involvement creates "an incredible momentum" to inspire young women. The Italian encouraged Shi to "enjoy the moment... it's the first step for [her] future."

The focus on youth extends beyond the track, with Domenicali emphasizing the need to "speak the language of the kids" through tailored content and platforms, a strategy already driving success globally. "China is very big. We need to develop a strategy starting from the beginning," he said, underscoring plans to leverage local social media platforms to sustain growth.

According to Domenicali, Chinese driver Zhou Guanyu's move to Ferrari as a reserve driver has further enhanced F1's commercial appeal in the country. Domenicali, who worked with Zhou during his Ferrari Academy days, praised the 25-year-old as a "credible ambassador," noting that his "Chinese connection will strengthen our presence in this market."

Though Zhou narrowly missed out points in last year's Shanghai Sprint, when he was a race driver for Sauber, Domenicali said that the Shanghai native's emotional home debut symbolized China's rising influence, adding "his voice has credibility here" and signaling collaboration to maximize Zhou's role.

While new Chinese talents remain on the horizon, Domenicali cautioned that "the passport is important, but quality must come first."

He expressed confidence, however, that with continued investment in grassroots programs and events like F1 Academy, China's pipeline will mature. "It's just a matter of time," he said. Enditem

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