China's growing F1 fan base brought the color to the Shanghai International Circuit for the Chinese Grand Prix over the weekend, with a record attendance of 230,000 spectators. F1's official data shows the country has exceeded 221 million fans, nearly 50 percent of which are female.[Photo/China Daily]

　　The engines of the 2026 Formula One Heineken Chinese Grand Prix may have fallen silent, but the passion of Chinese and international fans continues to reverberate.

　　Held at the Shanghai International Circuit over the weekend, the second round of the 2026 F1 season captivated motor sports enthusiasts worldwide.

　　Mercedes 19-year-old prodigy Kimi Antonelli claimed his first-ever F1 victory, with teammate George Russell securing second place and Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton rounding out the podium in third.

China's growing F1 fan base brought the color to the Shanghai International Circuit for the Chinese Grand Prix over the weekend, with a record attendance of 230,000 spectators. F1's official data shows the country has exceeded 221 million fans, nearly 50 percent of which are female.[Photo/China Daily]

　　Cultural phenomenon

　　For Chinese fans like Xu Fan and Zhao Yongqing, the 2026 Chinese Grand Prix was more than just a race — it was a celebration of their passion and dedication.

　　Xu, from Ningbo, Zhejiang province, bought a three-day ticket for the whole race weekend, and rose at 5 am to attend a fan meet-and-greet with Cadillac's Chinese racing driver Zhou Guanyu.

　　"When Zhou Guanyu knelt down in tears in front of thousands at the 2022 Chinese Grand Prix, I was deeply moved and became his fan right then," she shared.