F1 Chinese Grand Prix returns with major upgrades
With the 2026 Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix returning to the Shanghai International Circuit this weekend, final preparations for the motorsport spectacle are underway.
The 2026 season brings major changes to the championship, including smaller cars that are 32 kilograms lighter, active aerodynamics, and new power units with a 50-50 power split between combustion and electric systems.
Adding to the excitement, the all-new Cadillac Formula 1 Team joins the grid as the 11th outfit this season, with Chinese driver Zhou Guanyu serving as its reserve driver.
"Whether through the entry of a new team or innovations in technology and regulations, it will inject greater uncertainty and excitement into the race," said Zhang Weiyao, deputy general manager of Juss Sports, the organizer of the F1 Chinese Grand Prix.
"As the second round of the 2026 F1 season, the Chinese Grand Prix will undoubtedly become an important window for global auto fans to observe the latest developments in the sport," he added.
A highlight this year is the reopening of the newly upgraded E-stand, which can accommodate 5,000 spectators and offers prime views of the high-action Turn 11–13 corner complex.
As the E-stand is located some distance from the circuit's main entrance, Juss Sports will provide free shuttle buses to the P5 parking lot.
"For overseas spectators, we have partnered with the Foreign Affairs Office of the Shanghai Municipal People's Government to launch a special program that covers dining, accommodation, transportation, tourism, shopping, and entertainment benefits," Zhang said.
Attendance for this year's three-day event is expected to reach 230,000, which would mark a new all-time high since the Chinese Grand Prix debuted in Shanghai in 2004.
Overseas fans will account for 14 percent of attendees, while 74 percent of spectators will come from outside Shanghai, both up 3 percentage points compared with 2025.
The F1 Chinese Grand Prix has long served as an important platform for showcasing Shanghai’s international image and strengthening its global influence.
"Using the event as a platform to promote the city is also one of our key priorities in organizing the Chinese Grand Prix," Zhang said.
