Chinese female driver Tiedou's comeback in F1 Academy

On March 23, on the silver-gray track of the Shanghai International Circuit, 28-year-old Chinese driver Shi Wei (Tiedou) drove a car painted with blue and white vines across the finish line and finished the second round of the 2025 F1 Academy Race in 14th place. This result not only broke her personal career best record, but also made Chinese women take a historic step in the field of top racing - as the first Chinese driver to enter the F1 Academy stage, she used "speed and resilience" to write a track legend belonging to oriental women.

Break through adversity: from retiring from the debut to steady progress
As China's first F1 Academy wildcard driver, Shi Wei's journey is full of challenges. In the first round of the race on March 22, she regrettably retired due to loss of control on a high-speed curve. Faced with the expectations of the audience at home and the pressure of the international arena, the "extreme queen" was not discouraged. According to the team, after the race, she reviewed the data with the engineering team overnight, adjusted the parameters of the car, and even participated in the simulator training in person, striving to regain her form in the next day's race.

The second round on March 23 was a "breakout in chaos". At the beginning of the race, three drivers retired due to collisions and mistakes, and the track situation suddenly became tense. Shi Wei showed a calmness beyond experience: she calmly observed the situation, flexibly adjusted the line, and gradually improved her ranking with precise throttle control and cornering skills. In the end, with the cheers of the audience, she completed 11 laps at a steady pace, and her 14th place was recorded in the history of Chinese racing.

Beyond the track: a double breakthrough in cultural symbols and gender equality
The significance of Shi Wei's participation is far more than the results themselves. Her racing paintwork outlines oriental aesthetics with blue and white vine patterns, her helmet is inspired by Dunhuang Feitian, and the button design on the collar of her racing suit has become the finishing touch of "Chinese style". Choosing the No. 24 car number of Zhou Guanyu, China's first F1 driver, she said frankly: "This is the inheritance of strength and the expression of cultural confidence."

As a "circlebreaker" of the F1 Academy, Shi Wei's experience also reflects the breakthrough of women in the field of racing. In the 75-year history of F1, only two female drivers have stood on the stage of the race, and Shi Wei's appearance broke this shackle. In an interview, she said frankly: "Early racing equipment was mostly designed for men, and my size 36 shoes could not even fully step on the brake pedal. But now, manufacturers have begun to listen to the needs of female drivers, and this is the beginning of change."

Event empowerment: The "Her Era" Enlightenment of the F1 Academy
The 2025 F1 Chinese Grand Prix will introduce the F1 Academy for the first time, which will not only provide a competitive stage for female drivers around the world, but also promote gender equality with the "event + culture" model. Data shows that the proportion of female spectators in the Chinese station has reached 33.8%, an increase of 2.8% from 2024, confirming the enthusiasm of the female group for racing sports. During the event, the F1 Academy also held a "Career Workshop", inviting college students to enter the maintenance area to explore the technical and operational secrets of racing.

Shi Wei's rise is a microcosm of this trend. From a ski blogger to a professional driver, from a customs official to a "windbreaker" in the Formula One arena, she has completed the cross-border transformation in ten years. As she said after the game: "I would like to be a spark to ignite the speed dreams of more girls. When they surpass me, it will be the real victory of Chinese racing."

Future Outlook: From the Academy Race to the Roar of the International Arena
Although the F1 Academy Race has come to an end, Shi Wei's racing dream is still continuing. She plans to switch to the GT racing field and compete in the International Endurance Championship. At the same time, she will popularize racing knowledge through the "Doudou Racing Classroom", launch the "Ten Thousand People Simulator Challenge", and use the power of new media to bring the public closer to racing.

From the Chongli ski resort to the F1 track, from short video shots to the international podium, every acceleration of Shi Wei is opening up a new track for Chinese women's racing. As the slogan on the track says: "Speed has nothing to do with gender, passion is the engine." We look forward to more "iron beans" roaring off on top races in the future, allowing the world to hear the "voice of speed" of Chinese women.