Chinese F4 point-scorer Shi Wei has been announced as the first Wild Card for the 2025 F1 Academy season, and will make her debut in the all-female series at Shanghai International Circuit, becoming the first Chinese driver on the grid.
Chinese racer Shi Wei has been announced as the first Wild Card for the 2025 F1 Academy season, and will make her debut in the all-female series at Shanghai International Circuit on 21-23 March, becoming the first Chinese driver on the grid.
Shi Wei made her F4 debut in 2023 in the F4 Chinese Championship, joining Vivian Siu as the second woman in the series. She immediately made her mark, scoring a ninth place and two sixth place finishes at Ningbo International Circuit, on her first weekend. She then returned behind the wheel at Zhuhai, where she again scored points in three out of the four contests, completing the season with 22 points in just two contested rounds, winning the Best Rookie Award.
Shi Wei then returned to the Chinese F4 in 2024 for another partial campaign, where she raced in both the Shanghai rounds for Geeke ACM Racing. She immediately equalled her best finish with a sixth place at the season opener in a +20 grid, and returned to the points-paying positions with a ninth place result at the fourth round of the season.
Alongside her F4 outings, she also raced in the Toyota Gazoo Racing GR86 Cup and the China Endurance Championship in a Toyota Supra GT4, where she enjoyed notable successes.
The F1 Academy debut at the upcoming Chinese Grand Prix will therefore represent another big step in her career, with the Wild Card program launched in 2024 continuing into 2025 with the aim of showcasing local talents.
"It's an incredible honour to receive the Wild Card for F1 Academy, giving me the opportunity to compete and learn alongside top drivers on a larger stage, making a dream that once seemed out of reach come true", Shi Wei commented. "Hopefully, I can inspire the young generation and raise greater attention to motorsport and the development of the automotive industry."
The Wild Card entry will be operated by Hitech Grand Prix at every 2025 F1 Academy round.
"Shi Wei'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", added Huang Ming, General Manager of Shanghai Juss Sports Development. "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."
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