Thailand aims to have a Formula 1 Grand Prix in Bangkok by 2028

While Formula 1 has been in talks with Rwanda and South Africa for a few months, Stefano Domenicali traveled to Thailand this Tuesday for an express meeting with Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra regarding a possible GP in Thailand starting in 2028. Seeing that discussions with Africa are very complicated, Thailand jumped at the opportunity.

“I was delighted to meet the Thai Prime Minister to discuss her ambitious plan to host a race in Bangkok. I look forward to continuing our discussions in the upcoming months,” said the Formula 1 boss.

Shinawatra declared that the government would commission a feasibility study to host a Grand Prix on a street circuit in Bangkok starting from 2028.

Bonus point for Thailand: the country has an FIA-approved circuit in Buriram, in the northeastern part of the country, the Chang International Circuit, which currently hosts a round of the MotoGP World Championship. However, the suggestion is about an urban race in Bangkok, the kingdom’s capital.

« We had the opportunity to discuss the possibility for Thailand to host the Formula 1 race, which is a major sport with a global audience, » published the Thai Prime Minister on X after his meeting with Domenicali at Government House. Paetongtarn stated that she believed organizing a race would be an opportunity to modernize the infrastructure and roads of Bangkok, which are congested, and to attract more foreign tourists, especially high-end market visitors.

« I am convinced that the organization of this event will benefit all Thais, whether it’s about large-scale investments in infrastructure, job creation, new sources of income, or the import of new technologies and innovations. »

Several new venues have expressed interest in joining the F1 calendar in the future, given its popularity boom. Another street circuit is joining the calendar next year, with Madrid being awarded the title of the Spanish Grand Prix, while the future of Barcelona in F1 remains uncertain.

Problem: The F1 calendar is busier than ever, even though changes are expected as early as next year for the European portion. The end of Zandvoort is planned, and Belgium has promised to host a race in four of the next six seasons.

In its history, Formula 1 has had two Thai drivers: Alex Albon, a Thai and British driver racing for Williams who holds dual nationality and competes under the Thai flag, and Prince Birabongse Bhanudej who participated in F1 from its founding in 1950 until 1955.