Formula 1 has gained more prominence among the masses in recent times more than ever. The manufacturer, Audi has already announced entering the grid in 2026. With that being said Mohammed Ben Sulayem, the president of the FIA, voiced a desire to see a car maker F1 team from China shortly amid the summer break of the 2023 F1 season. Given China’s enormous population, Sulayem is well aware of the sport’s increasing fan base worldwide and thinks it would be wise to have a Chinese team.
The FIA chief, when asked about the same, said, “There are 1.4 billion people in China. Over 50 percent of electric cars on the roads come from China. That’s a fact. China is a big market.” Although F1 has always been centered on Europe, Sulayem argues that Asian nations have the potential to grow a sizable fanbase, which would be valuable for the sport.
⚠️| FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem wants a manufacture F1 team from China
“There are 1.4 billion people in China. Over 50 percent of electric cars on the roads come from China. That’s a fact. China is a big market.”
“When it comes to electromobility and hybrid, the Chinese… pic.twitter.com/Aw2XX46hTk
— RBR News 🇳🇱🇲🇽 (@redbulletin) August 3, 2023
Sulayem and the rest of his team are devoted to fostering F1 popularity in every nation worldwide. He pointed out the critical role of China in the auto sector, particularly in the rapidly evolving areas of e-mobility and hybrid technology. F1 has seen a spectacular spike in interest from China in recent years, and this has helped to fuel a huge rise in fandom.
China’s participation in F1
The country’s participation in F1 is limited in terms of tracks and the first and only Chinese driver on the grid, Zhou Guanyu. At the 2004 inaugural Chinese Grand Prix held in Shanghai, a young five-year-old Guanyu cheered passionately for his idol, the Spanish racer Fernando Alonso. Little did he know that years later, he would find himself competing against Alonso as a member of the Alfa Romeo team, becoming China’s first full-time F1 driver.
BREAKING: Formula 1 has cancelled the 2023 Chinese Grand Prix, as a result of the country’s strict Covid policies. pic.twitter.com/W1HeZS3u5O
— Sky Sports F1 (@SkySportsF1) December 2, 2022
Guanyu started his motorsport career by signing in for the Renault Sport Academy and went on to compete in Formula 2. In parallel, he joined Renault’s F1 team, which is now known as Alpine, as a development driver. The trail he blazed continued as he joined Alfa Romeo’s team at the age of 22, sharing the ranks with seasoned driver Valtteri Bottas.
Although, earlier on, the Chinese Grand Prix at Shanghai was a part of the 2023 calendar but due to various reasons, it did not take place. Sulayem wants a Chinese team in Formula 1 owing to the nation’s advances in technology and the size of its gigantic auto market. If these efforts yield positive results, there is a possibility of seeing a range of teams, including China, in F1 very soon.