Rapid Chinese teenager Zhenrui ‘Newman’ Chi will progress to the FIA Formula 3 Championship in 2027, having signed with MP Motorsport to compete in the Grand Prix-supporting category.

‍Chi will remain with the Dutch outfit on his journey up the single-seater ladder, continuing the bond that they forged during this season’s FIA Formula Regional European Championship in which the Aston Martin Aramco Formula One™ Team Driver Academy member was part of MP’s three-car team. In only his second full season of motor racing this year, the 17-year-old from Wenzhou made his mark as a consistent points-scorer to claim a strong eighth in the final standings. Now teaming up with the more experienced Maciej Gładysz and Matteo De Palo in MP’s line-up for the 2027 FIA Formula 3 Championship, Chi aims to continue on his mercurial career path.

“I am truly delighted with my promotion to Formula 3, especially while doing so with MP Motorsport”, said Chi. “We have gelled really well in the FIA Formula Regional European Championship this season, so my confidence is high for a repeat. The team have done really well in F3 this year, certainly towards the end of the season, so it’s my goal to contribute to the team’s ultimate pace and have their outstanding form last well into next season.”

“We are very happy to retain Newman for his step up to FIA Formula 3”, said Sander Dorsman, MP Motorsport’s team principal. “In FIA FREC this year, he has seldomly put a foot wrong, demonstrating his ability to be a consistent front-runner, which is absolutely what you need in a highly competitive environment such as FIA F3. With Maciej, Matteo and Newman, we have an exciting mix of experience and youthful energy that will hold us in good stead for 2027.”

“We’re very pleased to see Newman graduate into FIA F3 with MP Motorsport next year”, said Nuno Pinto, Racing Director, Aston Martin Aramco Formula One™ Team Driver Academy. “He’s earned this opportunity through consistently delivering strong performances this season, demonstrating that he’s more than ready to take the next step in his career. We look forward to watching him build on this momentum in 2027. With F3 racing on F1 weekends, it will also bring Newman closer to Aston Martin Aramco and further his ongoing integration with the Formula One team.”

Chi stepped up from karts to single-seaters with a late-2024 move into the UAE Formula Trophy for Formula 4 cars, immediately claiming two podiums and a pole position to finish fifth in the final standings. Coming over to Europe for his first full season, Chi took a win at Monza and three more podiums during his main Italian F4 campaign of 2025. Earlier this year, he became a regular points scorer in the Formula Regional Middle East Trophy to set him up for his switch to MP in the FIA Formula Regional European Championship.