Formula E World Championship returns to Sanya after 7 years

The FIA Formula E World Championship returned to the streets of Sanya, Hainan province, on Saturday for the first time since 2019, with the tropical coastal city hosting Round 11 of the 2025/26 season at the Haitang Bay Circuit.

The race marks a significant milestone for the all-electric series, which last visited the southern Chinese resort city seven years ago.

This year's competition, the 2026 Lianxin Sanya E-Prix features the debut of the GEN3 Evo car, representing the most substantial technical upgrade in the series' history. The new machine is the fastest-accelerating FIA single-seater, capable of 0-60 mph in 1.82 seconds. It introduces all-wheel drive for the first time in a Formula E car, available during qualifying duels, race starts and Attack Mode, delivering 350 kilowatts of peak power and significantly enhanced grip and acceleration.

The 2.52-kilometer Haitang Bay Circuit retains the 2019 layout with upgrades, featuring 12 turns along Fengtang Road and Haitang North Road, winding past landmarks including Atlantis Sanya and the Sanya International Duty-Free Shopping Complex, blending coastal scenery with high-speed racing. Turns 7 through 11 connect tight hairpins with long straights, creating prime overtaking opportunities, while the Attack Mode activation zone sits at Turn 4.

"The street circuit here in Sanya is very challenging," said Formula E CEO Jeff Dodds. "The layout is very complicated, and the weather is very humid and hot, so it's going to be a real challenge for drivers."

Energy management will prove critical as drivers balance power usage, tire degradation and straight-line speed in extreme conditions, with tropical thunderstorms also a possibility.

"We have no idea who's likely to win this race," Dodds said. "Nobody's a specialist on this racetrack. I think it's going to be very exciting, maybe one of the most exciting races."

Sanya's return reflects China's growing role in Formula E. The series has raced in four Chinese cities since its 2014 Beijing debut, with China now hosting two events in a single season for the first time. The Hainan Free Trade Port's visa-free access for citizens of 86 countries and streamlined customs procedures for racing equipment facilitated the event's return.

The race aligns with Hainan's green transportation goals. "The local region here has made a commitment to move away from combustion and has a vision for all-electric transportation," Dodds added. "For us, an all-electric racing series is a perfect mix."

Formula E powers the event using local grid electricity supplemented by HVO biofuel, avoiding fossil fuels entirely. The series also runs STEM climate education programs and an FIA Women in Motorsport initiative for local youth.

"I think this race, particularly here in Sanya, will be visually spectacular for people to watch, because of the coastal region and the beautiful location," Dodds said. "It will look like a beautiful race on television."