The Chinese Grand Prix will remain on the Formula 1 calendar until at least 2030 following the signing of a five-year contract extension.
Formula 1 will continue to race at Shanghai International Circuit until 2030 following the signing of a new deal between the sport and Chinese Grand Prix organisers. This is the race’s first contract extension since November 2021, when a new three-year deal was signed.
The Chinese Grand Prix first appeared on the F1 calendar in 2004, taking place annually until 2019 when it hosted the 1,000th World Championship race. The coronavirus pandemic led to the race being removed from the calendar for four consecutive seasons between 2020 and 2023 before it finally returned in 2024. The 2024 Chinese Grand Prix marked the first time that the Sprint format was used at Shanghai International Circuit.
F1 estimates that its fanbase in China is over 150 million, with more than half of those fans having started watching the sport in the last four years. The sport’s popularity in the country has been boosted in recent years thanks to Zhou Guanyu, who became the first Chinese driver to race in F1 back in 2022. Zhou departs the sport at the end of the 2024 season.
Speaking about the Chinese Grand Prix contract extension, Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali said he was delighted that the sport will continue its successful partnership with the country:
“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.”
Chinese Grand Prix Becomes Latest Event to Sign Long-Term Deal
News of the Chinese Grand Prix’s contract extension comes just days after organisers of the Dutch Grand Prix announced that the Zandvoort race will be discontinued after 2026. There are a further four circuits which have their contract up for renewal in 2025, including Imola, Soa-Francorchamps and Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez. Confirmation is expected soon that some European races will follow a rotation system from 2026 and appear on the calendar every other year.
The Chinese Grand Prix is the third in the past month to extend its contract into the 2030s. Two of F1’s legendary venues signed long-term contracts in November. The Monaco Grand Prix will remain on the schedule until at least 2031, with the race set to move to a June date from 2026 onwards. Meanwhile, the Italian Grand Prix will also remain on the calendar at Monza until 2031.
The 2025 Chinese Grand Prix is set to take place on March 21-23. It will be the second round of the season, taking place one week after the season-opening Australian Grand Prix. Tickets for the race go on sale from December 18. Read More: Chinese Grand Prix Travel Guide
