Still looking for a first Ambassador

Shanghai International Circuit has been a permanent fixture on the F1 calendar for more than a decade, but a Chinese driver is yet to start a race at the top echelon. The country's latest hopes rest on Adderly Fong, whom Lotus recently added to its 2015 roster by giving the 25-year-old from Hong Kong a development driver role.

“I aim to become the first Chinese driver to compete in a Formula 1 Grand Prix which will assist to promote the sport in China and also in Hong Kong,” said Fong.

However, chances are very slim to see the GP3 racer, who tested for Sauber last year, actually take to the track, let alone race, in the E23 Hybrid.

Meanwhile, Formula One has seen a couple of Indian drivers (Narain Karthikeyan and Karun Chandhok) and a pair of Russian pilots (Vitaly Petrov and Daniil Kvyat) make their grand prix debut over the past 10 years.

Julien Billiotte

Recent Posts

How Hadjar engineered his leap to ‘weird’ Red Bull seat

During his 2025 rookie season in F1, Isack Hadjar carried himself with a calm, almost…

46 minutes ago

Horner in Jerez: Surprise MotoGP visit sparks ownership rumors

The asphalt at Jerez was already sizzling on Saturday, but the temperature in the MotoGP…

19 hours ago

Michele Alboreto: Ferrari's last Italian winner

On this day in 2001, the world of motorsport mourned the loss of Michele Alboreto,…

20 hours ago

Ouch! Alesi spins vintage F1 Ferrari into Monaco barrier

Former Grand Prix driver Jean Alesi, who famously wore his heart on his sleeve during…

22 hours ago

Montoya’s shock call: Ban Verstappen from GT3 racing!

Former F1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya has called out Red Bull for letting Max Verstappen…

23 hours ago

‘Starting to pay off’: Sainz encouraged by positive step for Williams

While the start of the 2026 season has been a heavy lift for Williams –…

1 day ago