The sports diplomacy of the People's Republic of China and Chinese investments in Formula 1

China rightfully stands as one of the leaders in world Olympic sports for many years. At the same time, sports achievements are viewed not only as a goal but also as a means of addressing the current tasks in the country's international politics. As history shows, this approach has been employed by the Chinese government since the formation of the Republic, when sports diplomacy was regarded as a means to establish diplomatic relations with various countries, including the United States. The subject of the study is the sports diplomacy of the People's Republic of China, examined through the lens of the country's participation in the Olympic Games, Formula 1 World Championship, and other international sports competitions. The aim of the research is to identify how the impact of sports diplomacy, particularly the arrival of the first Chinese Formula 1 driver and the expansion of technological investments in the sports sector, contributes to the creation of a new channel of "soft power" and addresses economic challenges. The methodological framework includes the analysis of official documents, statistical data, and case studies of key events (the construction of the Shanghai circuit, contracts with global sponsors, the career of Zhou Guanyu). The work is based on highly informative articles by various specialists, such as A. Kattepura, V. Vostrikov, K. Goel, R. Rul, D. Oje, M.-P. Lafond. The results of the research indicate that sports diplomacy helps China develop a new platform for the dissemination of "soft power" and employs a new economic tool to attract tourists and mutual investments. This form of cooperation serves as an instrument for building bilateral relations with different countries, as demonstrated by the examples of "ping-pong diplomacy," "stadium diplomacy," and the Olympic movement. In the field of motorsport, China is actively integrating into its global technological and personnel structure. The PRC is no longer just a passive sponsor but an active participant in major competitions, including Formula 1. The emergence of a Chinese driver and the return of the Chinese Grand Prix after the pandemic have increased citizens' interest in motorsport, attracting over 200 million new fans and forming a positive image of the country.