Albon meets Thai PM to show support for F1 race in Bangkok

The chances of a Formula 1 race in Thailand continue to improve as Williams driver Alex Albon became the latest representative of the series to meet with the country’s prime minister.

Hopes of a grand prix around the streets of Bangkok have existed for some time but the process was stepped up last month when F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali held positive talks with prime minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra.

Thailand has been keen to land a place on the F1 calendar for some time, and previous prime minister Srettha Thavisin attended the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix last year to hold preliminary talks with Domenicali.

Srettha Thavisin, Prime Minister of Thailand, Stefano Domenicali, CEO, Formula One Group

Photo by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images

Now ahead of this weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix, Albon, a Thai-British driver who races under the Thailand flag, has also met with current incumbent Shinawatra for a successful conversation around a future grand prix and representing the nation in F1.

Thailand is among a host of countries looking for a place on the already packed 24-race calendar, with a return to Argentina and a new race in Africa also hinted at by Domenicali at different stages of last season.

“I think the good thing that we were able to do in the last couple of years is focus on the places that we do believe represent the future for Formula 1,” he told Sky Sports F1 during the Australian Grand Prix weekend.

“We receive a lot of attention from other places in the world. By the way, I’m just finishing the race here in Melbourne, I'm going to Bangkok - there is a potential interest from the government to develop something there.

“We have other places in Europe, and as you know there are interests in Africa, there are interests in South America now.”

Last year, the former Ferrari boss told ESPN that “more than 35” venues had expressed an interest in staging F1 but insisted the 24-race cap would remain in place.

Stefano Domenicali, F1 CEO, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Prime Minister of Thailand

Photo by: Formula 1

McLaren CEO Zak Brown recently praised the idea of adding rotational races but believes the calendar has topped out as it is.

Asked if F1 had reached its peak, Brown replied: “I don’t think it has hit its peak, which is quite exciting.

“Clearly some things have peaked, 24 races. We can’t do more. I would like to see, and it is something that has been spoken about in the past in order to grow the calendar, maybe have a fixed 20 races and eight that rotate every other year.

“That is a way to get into 28 markets but maintain a 24-race calendar because the calendar is very difficult on everybody, but that is a way to continue to grow the sport.”

The Belgian Grand Prix became the first to sign a rotational contract with F1, agreeing to stage a round of the championship until 2031 but with races not taking place in 2029 or 2030.