Shi Wei returns as F1 Academy wild card for 2026 Shanghai opener
- RACERS
- 2 hours ago
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Shi's back: Chinese racer Shi Wei will make her return to F1 Academy as the first Wild Card entry of the 2026 season, racing at her home event in Shanghai.
Chinese racer Shi Wei is set to return to the F1 Academy grid as the first Wild Card entry of the 2026 season, as the championship opens its campaign again in Shanghai.
Having made history in 2025 as the first Chinese driver to compete in F1 Academy, Shi will once again race in front of her home crowd at the first round of the 2026 season at the Shanghai International Circuit. The event will take place from March 13, with F1 Academy once again featuring as a support series to the Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix.
Shi’s return to the all-female championship follows another historic achievement in Chinese single-seater racing, having recently claimed victory in the F4 Chinese Masters, becoming the first Chinese female driver to win an F4 race.
Introduced in 2024, the F1 Academy Wild Card initiative was designed to strengthen regional talent in the markets visited by the series, providing opportunities for emerging drivers from each host region. Since its inception, the programme has produced 13 Wild Card entries across two seasons, with eight of the 17 full-time seats on the 2026 grid now occupied by drivers who previously entered the championship as Wild Cards.
“I truly cherish the opportunity to compete again as a Wild Card driver. I will work hard in preparation so that more people can witness the rise of Chinese women in motorsport,” said Shi Wei.
“I hope my journey can inspire others – racing is not reserved for only a few. With persistence, dedication, and passion, everyone has the chance to go further.”
Shi first joined the F1 Academy grid as the opening Wild Card of the 2025 season, also at Shanghai International Circuit, becoming the first Chinese driver to line up in the championship. Her debut weekend was marked by mixed fortunes, as she was forced to retire from Race 1 before finishing 14th in the second race.
Her single-seater career began in the F4 Chinese Championship in 2023, where she made an impression during her debut weekend at Ningbo International Circuit, recording a ninth place and two sixth-place finishes, before returning at Zhuhai to score points in three of four races. Despite contesting only two rounds, she ended the season with a total of 22 points.
Shi continued in Chinese F4 in 2024 with another partial campaign, competing in both Shanghai rounds. She matched her career-best result with a sixth place at the season opener and added a ninth-place finish later in the year, once again finishing inside the points. Alongside her single-seater commitments, she also gained experience in tin-top and endurance racing, competing in the Toyota Gazoo Racing GR86 Cup and the China Endurance Championship in a Toyota Supra GT4.
In 2025, following her F1 Academy Wild Card appearance, Shi returned to Chinese F4 and achieved a personal best finish of 12th at Shanghai. Her season concluded on a high note with a historic victory in the F4 Chinese Masters, setting the stage for her return to the international spotlight in 2026.