Formula E could expand to four rounds in China, says founder

• Formula E may fill one of next season’s TBA slots with Sanya
• Series has huge opportunity to crack China “like Formula One cracked the US”

Formula E could host at least four rounds in China, according to the series founder and chairman Alejandro Agag.

With US government policy under Donald Trump scaling back electric vehicle (EV) incentives, China has stepped into the vacuum with strong state support – making it an obvious growth market for the championship

“Trump is really giving the space to China and China is only too happy to take it,” Agag told Reuters. “I was in China for the Shanghai Formula E race and every car I saw on the road was electric.”

Focusing on China could be an astute move from the all-electric series. Formula One, after all, has placed considerable focus on expanding in the US with three races per season now in the country.

“Formula One should have a massive focus in China,” continued Agag. “I think Formula E could have four races in China. I think it would be fully sustainable to have four races in China … and I think it will be much closer to the reality of the car market in China.”

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Agag later clarified to Reuters that he meant four separate venues. Since debuting the championship in Beijing in 2014, Formula E has also raced in Hong Kong, Sanya and Shanghai.

The record 18-race schedule for next season contains a double-header at the Shanghai International Circuit but, with two TBA slots in the middle of the season, Sanya has been mentioned as a possible option.

“In China, they won’t be selling combustion cars,” said Agag. “So what are combustion races doing in China?

“China is the biggest car market in the world so if the cars are going to be electric … I think Formula E should focus on China.

“I think, like Formula One cracked the US, Formula E has a huge opportunity to crack China.”

Formula E recently confirmed a contract extension with the International Automobile Federation (FIA) until 2048, confirming its position as the only sanctioned all-electric series under the governing body.

With Formula One set to increase the role of electric power in its hybrid engines from next season, this gives Formula E a stronger position – especially when it comes to potential collaboration in the future

“If Formula E is the one that takes care of electric, Formula One takes care of combustion,” said Agag. “So we have each one its mission, and then we can definitely work together.

“Convergence can be commercial, media, calendar. There are many different ways to converge, but it doesn’t need to be technology.”