The Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix roared to life at the Shanghai International Circuit in east China on Friday. Over the course of three days, fans are treated to a thrilling spectacle of speed and skill as the world's top drivers are battling it out on one of the most iconic tracks in the sport.
This year's event marks the second race of the 24-race Formula 1 season. Teams and drivers are eager to secure strong results in Shanghai to lay a solid foundation for the long campaign ahead.
The schedule saw official Free Practice sessions and the qualifying for the Sprint race on Friday, followed by the Sprint itself and the Sprint Qualifying session for the main race on Saturday. The climax of the weekend, the main race, will take place on Sunday afternoon.
Charles Leclerc, a driver for the Ferrari team, shared his thoughts on competing in China.
"It's always nice to come back to China. The track itself is very very technical and a very difficult track for me. I think this season we're starting with the two most difficult tracks, so I've got to work a bit harder for Melbourne and Shanghai. But I'm looking forward to the challenges. This is something I enjoy," he said.
Since its debut in Shanghai in 2004, the Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix has grown into a globally recognized sporting event and a major highlight on the city's sports calendar. As this year coincids with the 75th anniversary of Formula 1, the event has drawn massive interest.
Tickets for the 2025 race were almost sold out well in advance, with an estimated 220,000 spectators expected to attend over the weekend. This impressive turnout is set to surpass last year's record of over 200,000 visitors, further cementing the race's status as a premier sporting attraction in China.
Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix kicks off in Shanghai
Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix kicks off in Shanghai
A former television host from Taiwan, Zhai Xuan, has made a pivotal decision to leave mainstream broadcasting in order to create content that provides a better understanding of the Chinese mainland and cross-strait relations.
Zhai, a seasoned television host with over a decade of experience in Taiwan's media landscape, recently addressed an audience at an event in Beijing, where she revealed her complete transition into independent online media.
In her remarks, she articulated her aspiration to bridge what she perceives as a significant information gap between audiences on both sides of the Strait, highlighting her commitment to fostering a deeper understanding and connection through her new endeavors.
"I was really surprised by all the fake news. There were stories saying people on the mainland can't afford tea eggs or that they live in mud houses and in Taiwan, this was the main information many people received," said Zhai.
Zhai said she initially began producing online videos to challenge such perceptions while continuing her work as a television host.
In April 2025, she travelled to the mainland with her father to fulfill her late grandfather's wish to return to his hometown. The trip, which reunited family members separated since 1949, was recorded in a video series titled "Journey to Find Our Roots", drawing attention from viewers in both Taiwan and the mainland.
"Many people in Taiwan told me that after watching, they wanted to apply for a mainland travel permit immediately and go looking for their relatives. Some had long forgotten these things, but after seeing my story, they began thinking about their hometowns and family members they had never met and decided to search for their roots," Zhai shared her story at the event.
By mid-2025, Zhai said she began to feel increasing pressure amid rising political tensions and a tightening atmosphere around cross-Strait exchanges in Taiwan.
After more than 12 years in the industry, Zhai resigned from her position, believing it was the right thing to do.
"At that moment, I felt this was a major issue，not just for me, but for Chinese people on both sides of the Strait. If I backed down then, I wouldn’t be standing on the right side," said Zhai.
Since leaving television, Zhai has broadened her online programming to encompass a range of daily-life topics, including practical guidance on applying for a mainland travel permit and using commonly employed mobile applications, in addition to content that delves into historical memory and cultural connections across the Strait.
As the debate over cross-Strait relations continues in Taiwan, Zhai said she remains committed to her current path.
Former Taiwan TV host bridges cross-Strait divide via online media
