F1 race in Thailand moves closer with Domenicali heading for talks in Bangkok

Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has revealed he will visit Thailand after the Australian Grand Prix for talks over a potential race in Bangkok.

The current F1 calendar is the most packed it has ever been, with 24 grands prix slated for the 2025 season which gets under way in Melbourne this weekend.

However, the recent interest boom in the series has seen many potential new hosts seek a spot in future years.

The Madring in Madrid joins the list for next season, while the Belgian Grand Prix has become the first to sign an agreement to host races on a rotational basis, freeing up space for other tracks to do likewise.

It was announced on Wednesday that Domenicali would continue as president and CEO of Formula One Management for at least a further five years, with the ex-Ferrari boss appointed in 2021.

Over the course of his extended deal, taking F1 to new markets will be a key target for Domenicali.

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

“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 go to Bangkok to see - 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.”

A street race around Bangkok has been mooted for some time but seemingly moved a step closer last year when Thai prime minster Srettha Thavisin attended the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix and revealed afterwards he had held talks with Domenicali.

He wrote: “In line with the Thai Government’s intention to bring F1 racing to Thailand in the near future, I visited the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari and had a discussion with executives of the Formula One Group.

Thailand flag

Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

“This resonates with our policy to place Thailand on the global radar for international events and activities.”

Rwanda, which hosted the 2024 FIA Gala, has announced its ambition to bring F1 back to Africa – although there have since been calls for the series not to head to the country by representatives of the Democratic Republic of Congo amid bloody conflict in the region.

Meanwhile, at last year’s United States Grand Prix, Domenicali hinted that Argentina could return to the F1 calendar in the future, having last hosted a round of the championship in 1998.

Ahead of the 2025 season opener in Australia, McLaren CEO Zak Brown praised the idea of adding rotational races but believes the calendar has topped out at 24.

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.”