Formula E Returns to Sanya After Seven-Year Absence, Eyes Broader China Expansion

Formula E is returning to Sanya, China, for the first time since March 2019, marking a significant moment for the all-electric racing championship in what series co-founder Alberto Longo describes as its most important market. The hiatus was caused by venue issues following the inaugural race in 2019, compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent logistical challenges that prevented the original three-year agreement from materializing. The return reflects Formula E's strategic ambitions to deepen its presence in China, which accounted for 62 percent of global light-duty electric vehicle sales and more than 70 percent of global EV production in 2025.

Longo emphasized China's significance to the championship, citing the country's 138 million Formula E fans, 55 percent of whom are female. He highlighted that China remains the only country on the current calendar hosting multiple rounds, with a double-header scheduled for Shanghai on July 4–5, and expressed desire to expand further. Despite China's dominance in electrification and manufacturing, Formula E currently has no Chinese drivers, teams, or manufacturers competing in the championship—a gap Longo indicated the series is actively working to address through ongoing discussions with several major manufacturers.

The Sanya race will feature the latest generation of Formula E cars, which can reach speeds approaching 350 kilometers per hour, compared with around 280 km/h in 2019. A revised circuit layout is designed to encourage more overtaking, with Longo predicting over 200 overtakes during the race. The championship is also positioning Sanya as a tourism destination, estimating that approximately 70 percent of attendees will travel from outside the city, aligning with Sanya's broader strategy of attracting major international sporting events. The 2019 race was won by France's Jean-Eric Vergne for DS Techeetah, the team that later evolved into the current DS Penske operation.