Wolff's Bold Idea: Doubling Down on China's F1 Impact
Mar.26 - Formula 1 could add a second grand prix in China, according to Mercedes boss Toto Wolff.
It emerges that, after the opening Australia-Shanghai double header, Wolff has elected to sit out the forthcoming long haul to Japan - the first of a triple-header.
The Austrian has been sitting out the odd race in recent years amid the sport's hectic calendar, which currently stands at a bustling 24 grands prix.
But Wolff thinks F1 could add a second Chinese race.
"I was on the grid and I looked at the packed grandstands along the main straight and into the first corner," he told journalists in Shanghai last Sunday.
"The knowledge they have here about Formula 1 is also impressive. I mean, could there be a second race? I think 'why not?'" Wolff continued. "It is one of the economies in the world.
"So, yes, if we can keep the enthusiasm high."
F1's sole Chinese driver Guanyu Zhou now serves as Ferrari reserve after losing his Sauber seat - but he is being strongly linked with Cadillac for 2026.
Helpfully, Cadillac F1 boss Graeme Lowdon is the 25-year-old's manager.
"I will certainly wait for any opportunity," Zhou said as he attended the Chinese GP at Shanghai. "And I am very happy, of course, that Graeme is the team principal of Cadillac, but that does not mean anything else.
"At the end of the day, the decision will be made by multiple people."
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If a second China round ever occurred, it wouldn't become a thing for the foreseaable future in any case, & Zhou is right that Graeme Lowdon being his manager ultimately doesn't greatly matter because the team's upper management has the final say on driver choices in the end.