Thailand’s cabinet approved a bid to bring a Formula 1 grand prix to Bangkok, with a plan for the race to join the F1 calendar from 2028 on a five-year deal and a $1.2 billion budget allotted for the bid.
Tourism minister Sorawong Thienthong revealed the approval during a press conference, signaling Thailand’s strong commitment to hosting the prestigious event. F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali and Williams driver Alex Albon have actively engaged in discussions with Thai officials to push forward on the potential race.
Albon, who met with the prime minister and discussed current designs for the race track, praised Thailand’s dedication and the quality of the project during his visit to Bangkok, indicating a positive outlook for the prospective event.
Thailand sees hosting an F1 race as a lucrative opportunity, with reports of a memorandum of understanding in place between the government and F1, aligning with the current trend of rotating European rounds to potentially accommodate the Bangkok race on the calendar. The return of F1 to South East Asia through a Thailand Grand Prix would mark a significant milestone since the last Malaysian Grand Prix in 2017.
