By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Formula 1 chief executive Stefano Domenicali met with the prime minister of Thailand to discuss plans for a street-circuit grand prix in Bangkok.
Thailand is among several countries hoping to join or return to the F1 calendar, and Domenicali signaled more talks soon.
“I was delighted to meet with Paetongtarn Shinawatra, the Prime Minster of Thailand, and her team today to discuss their impressive plans to host a race in Bangkok,” he said in a statement by F1 on social media. “I am looking forward to continuing our discussions in the weeks and months ahead.”
F1 plans to rotate between some established races that could open up opportunities for new venues. The Belgian Grand Prix is one that is set to be dropped from the calendar in alternate years in future, and champion Max Verstappen’s home Dutch GP chose to end its contract after next year.
South Africa has sought to bring F1 back to its Kyalami circuit, which hosted the most recent F1 race in Africa in 1993, and Rwanda is also keen to host for the first time.
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra said the government would commission a “feasibility study” into the possibility of a race in the capital from 2028.
There is an existing track in Buriram, in north-east Thailand, which is accredited by the FIA, the governing body for world motorsport.
Domenicali described the plans as “impressive”.
Paetongtarn said: “I believe that all Thai people will benefit from organising this event, whether it is large-scale infrastructure investment, job creation, new income generation, and importing new technologies and innovations.”
The F1 schedule of 24 races includes four in the Asia-Pacific region.