Shanghai Juss Event Management Co Ltd officially announces the signing of Shi Wei on Friday. [photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
Shanghai Juss Event Management Co Ltd, the promoter of the Formula One Chinese Grand Prix, officially announced the signing of Shi Wei on Friday. Shi is the first female driver to secure a class win in FIA F4 China.
Also known as "Tie Dou", she will compete as a Wild Card driver in the opening round of the 2025 F1 Academy season in China, becoming the first Chinese driver to step onto the grid of F1 Academy.
Shanghai Juss Event Management Co Ltd officially announces the signing of Shi Wei (right). [photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
"It's an incredible honor to receive the Wild Card for F1 Academy, giving me the opportunity to compete and learn alongside top drivers on a bigger stage, making a dream that once seemed out of reach come true," said Shi. She clinched the Challenge Cup at the FIA F4 Chinese Championship in Shanghai and finished third in the CFGP category.
"Of course, excitement comes with pressure. I will intensify my training in the coming months and hope to showcase the spirit of female drivers through this opportunity. Hopefully, I can inspire the young generation and raise greater attention to motorsport and the development of the automotive industry," she added.
Shi Wei, the first female driver to secure a class win in FIA F4 China. [photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
The new F1 Academy season will kick off at the Formula 1 Heineken Chinese Grand Prix 2025 at the Shanghai International Circuit from March 21 to 23, marking the first time China has been included in the calendar of this global all-female series.
Then the series will visit Jeddah, Miami, Montreal, Zandvoort and Singapore before concluding in Las Vegas.
Since its inauguration in 2023, F1 Academy has been driving change in motorsport by providing a platform to inspire and support young girls and women to embark on their own journeys.
Shanghai Juss Event Management Co Ltd officially announces the signing of Shi Wei (right). [photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
Huang Ming, general manager of Shanghai Juss Event Management Co Ltd, said: "Shi's Wild Card entry into F1 Academy represents not only a historic breakthrough for Chinese motorsport, but also a powerful reflection of the power that defines Chinese women. We look forward to seeing her shine on the global stage and to the exciting opportunities this will create for future generations of female drivers."
China's first F1 driver Zhou Guanyu also offered his congratulations: "I'm very happy to see motorsport gaining more fans in China, and I'm thrilled to see more women emerging in the motorsport industry, which is highly positive for the future of the entire sport."
The new F1 Academy season will kick off at the Formula 1 Heineken Chinese Grand Prix 2025 at the Shanghai International Circuit from March 21 to 23. [photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
"Congratulations to Shi for receiving the F1 Academy Wild Card for the round in China. I hope she moves forward with determination and gives her best," Zhou said.
As of now, the preparations for the 2025 Formula 1 Heineken Chinese Grand Prix and the inaugural round of F1 Academy in China are advancing smoothly. Fans can purchase tickets through the official ticketing platform Jushi Sports App or via the WeChat and Alipay applets for "Jushi Sports App". International fans can visit https://ztmen.jussyun.com/ for more ticket details.
