Shi Wei, also known as “Tie Dou”, will make history when F1 Academy arrives in Shanghai for its 2025 season opener. She will become the first Chinese driver to compete in F1 Academy, making her debut in front of her home crowd at the Shanghai International Circuit.
Shi to be one of seven Wild Card entries to feature in F1 Academy
In January 2025, F1 Academy announced that Shi would feature as the first Wild Card entry of 2025. This initiative, introduced in 2024, aims to strengthen the talent pool in the regions where the series races, and prioritise young drivers from the host country or the surrounding region. F1 Academy aims to feature a Wild Card entry at all seven rounds of the series, having had six such entries in 2024.
Shi, like the Wild Card entries after her, will race a car operated by Hitech Grand Prix, which joined the team in 2025. With Hitech also fielding two full-time drivers—Nicola Havrda and Aiva Anagnostiadis—Shi will be one of the 18 drivers forming the expanded 2025 F1 Academy grid.
A history of racing success
An F1 Academy debut is well-deserved for the Chinese driver, who has a history of success in other categories.
Shi made her F4 debut in the F4 Chinese Championship, becoming the second woman in the series, alongside Vivian Su. The F4 debutant had a strong start to her season, earning a ninth-place and two sixth-place finishes in the opening round at the Ningbo International Circuit. She then scored points in three of the four races at the next outing in Zhuhai, ultimately finishing her first partial season with 22 points. This strong performance in the 2023 F4 Chinese Championship earned her the Best Rookie Award that season.
Shi returned to the Chinese F4 Championship for another partial season in 2024. After competing in two rounds, she found herself with 10 points from six races. She won the Challenge Cup in Shanghai and placed third in the CFGP category.
In addition to her F4 outings, Shi tried her hand at endurance racing, competing in the Toyota Gazoo Racing GR86 and the China Endurance Championship, and enjoyed much success in both competitions.
Shi hoping to inspire the next generation
With a wealth of diverse racing experience, Shi is set to further enhance her résumé in front of her home crowd in Shanghai. She will be aiming to score points, following in the footsteps of 2024 Wild Cards Nina Gademan, Alisha Palmowski, Ella Lloyd, and Logan Hannah, all of whom delivered impressive performances on their F1 Academy debuts.
Describing the opportunity to compete in F1 Academy as an “incredible honour” and a dream come true, Shi expressed her excitement about this milestone in her career.
“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. This makes a dream that once seemed out of reach finally come true.”
Beyond her personal aspirations, Shi hopes to use this platform to inspire the next generation of racing drivers while also shining a spotlight on the motorsport and automotive industries.
“Hopefully, I can inspire the younger generation and bring greater attention to motorsport as well as the development of the automotive industry.”
