Hankook Returns to Shanghai as Formula E's High-Speed Double-Header Brings the Championship to a Critical Juncture

- Rounds 12 and 13 of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship Season 12 will be held at the Shanghai International Circuit on 4–5 July
- The 3.051-kilometer permanent circuit is defined by the long Turn 1–2 complex, Formula E’s longest corner sequence and a key source of sustained tyre loading
- For Hankook’s iON Race, Shanghai combines summer heat with permanent circuit demands, putting durability and thermal consistency at the centre of the weekend

Seoul, Korea, 3 July 2026 — Hankook Tire & Technology Co., Ltd. (hereafter Hankook), the exclusive tyre supplier to the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, returns to the Shanghai International Circuit this weekend for Rounds 12 and 13 of the 2025/26 season. The back-to-back double-header on 4 and 5 July marks Shanghai’s third consecutive appearance on the Formula E calendar and comes at an important stage of the championship fight.

The 3.051-kilometer Shanghai International Circuit uses a clockwise, 12-corner configuration derived from the venue’s West Long Circuit layout. Opened in 2004 for the Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix, the venue welcomed Formula E nearly two decades later as part of the Championship’s continued expansion in China. From above, the circuit’s distinctive layout is designed to resemble the Chinese character ‘上’ (shang), meaning ‘up above’ or ‘ascend,’ reflecting the city’s identity and ambition.

As one of the few permanent racing facilities on the Formula E calendar, it presents a different set of demands from the temporary street circuits that make up much of the season. Its defining feature is the Turn 1–2 complex, a long right-hander that tightens progressively through nearly 270 degrees before leading into a hairpin. This sequence places sustained lateral load on the left-side tyres over an extended portion of the lap, creating a tyre management challenge unlike those encountered at most street venues.

Shanghai’s summer climate provides an additional challenge, with daytime temperatures expected to range between 30°C and 38°C and humidity levels frequently exceeding 75 percent. The possibility of afternoon rain showers and rapidly changing weather conditions could further influence grip levels, tyre warm-up, and race strategy across both races.

For Hankook, the combination of sustained high-speed loading, heat, humidity, and potential changes in track conditions places increased emphasis on the iON Race’s durability, thermal stability, predictable behavior, and consistent performance throughout the double-header.

“Shanghai is one of the more demanding events on the Formula E calendar because it combines sustained lateral loading, summer heat, humidity, and the demands of a double-header,” said Manfred Sandbichler, Senior Director of Hankook Motorsport. “For teams, the key will be maintaining confidence in the tyre from the first session through the second race. Our focus is on supporting that consistency across the full weekend.”

With Rounds 12 and 13 representing a key point in the championship battle, the points available across the Shanghai double-header will carry significant weight for both the Drivers’ and Teams’ championships.