The possibilities of a Components 1 race in Thailand proceed to enhance as Williams driver Alex Albon grew to become the most recent consultant of the sequence to fulfill with the nation’s prime minister.
Hopes of a grand prix across the streets of Bangkok have existed for a while however the course of was stepped up final month when F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali held constructive talks with prime minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra.
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Thailand has been eager to land a spot on the F1 calendar for a while, and former prime minister Srettha Thavisin attended the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix final yr to carry preliminary talks with Domenicali.
Srettha Thavisin, Prime Minister of Thailand, Stefano Domenicali, CEO, Components One Group
Photograph by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Photos
Now forward of this weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix, Albon, a Thai-British driver who races beneath the Thailand flag, has additionally met with present incumbent Shinawatra for a profitable dialog round a future grand prix and representing the nation in F1.
Thailand is amongst a bunch of nations in search of a spot on the already packed 24-race calendar, with a return to Argentina and a brand new race in Africa additionally hinted at by Domenicali at totally different phases of final season.
“I feel the nice factor that we had been capable of do within the final couple of years is concentrate on the locations that we do consider symbolize the long run for Components 1,” he instructed Sky Sports activities F1 in the course of the Australian Grand Prix weekend.
“We obtain lots of consideration from different locations on the earth. By the way in which, I’m simply ending the race right here in Melbourne, I will Bangkok – there’s a potential curiosity from the federal government to develop one thing there.
“We now have different locations in Europe, and as you recognize there are pursuits in Africa, there are pursuits in South America now.”
Final yr, the previous Ferrari boss instructed ESPN that “greater than 35” venues had expressed an curiosity in staging F1 however insisted the 24-race cap would stay in place.
McLaren CEO Zak Brown not too long ago praised the concept of including rotational races however believes the calendar has topped out as it’s.
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Requested if F1 had reached its peak, Brown replied: “I don’t assume it has hit its peak, which is sort of thrilling.
“Clearly some issues have peaked, 24 races. We will’t do extra. I want to see, and it’s one thing that has been spoken about previously with a purpose to develop the calendar, possibly have a hard and fast 20 races and eight that rotate each different yr.
“That could be a method to get into 28 markets however preserve a 24-race calendar as a result of the calendar may be very tough on everyone, however that could be a method to proceed to develop the game.”
The Belgian Grand Prix grew to become the primary to signal a rotational contract with F1, agreeing to stage a spherical of the championship till 2031 however with races not going down in 2029 or 2030.
On this article
Mark Mann-Bryans
Components 1
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