Alex Albon Meets Thai Prime Minister to Advocate for Bangkok F1 Race

Thai driver Alex Albon supports the bid for a Formula 1 race in Bangkok, following a meeting with Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra. This initiative gains momentum from prior positive discussions by F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali. Thailand strives to be part of the F1 calendar amid competition from other nations, with Domenicali emphasizing interest from various global markets.

The prospects of hosting a Formula 1 race in Thailand have notably improved following a recent meeting between Thai driver Alex Albon and Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra. Albon, who represents Thailand in F1, has shown strong support for plans that aim to bring a Grand Prix to Bangkok, underscoring the country’s ambition to secure a spot on the F1 calendar.

The discussions about a race date back several years, gaining traction after F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali’s talks with Shinawatra last month. Previous Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has also been involved, having attended the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix last year to initiate preliminary discussions regarding the race’s feasibility.

As the anticipation builds ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix, Albon’s meeting with Prime Minister Shinawatra has further solidified support for a Bangkok Grand Prix. Thailand is competing with numerous other nations vying for inclusion in F1’s busy 24-race schedule, especially as there are reports of potential races being planned in Argentina and Africa.

F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has emphasized the importance of focusing on locations that represent the future of the sport, indicating broad interest from various global markets, including Africa and South America. He remarked on the government’s potential interest in facilitating the event in Bangkok.

More than 35 venues have expressed interest in hosting F1 events, but Domenicali has maintained that the 24-race limit will remain. McLaren CEO Zak Brown has acknowledged this limitation while suggesting the potential for a rotating race calendar to expand the F1 footprint without exceeding the current cap on races.

In summary, Alex Albon’s recent meeting with Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra signals a promising progression towards hosting a Formula 1 event in Thailand. This effort follows prior discussions with F1 leaders and reflects Thailand’s ongoing ambition to join the prestigious racing calendar. However, the challenge lies in the competition from numerous other countries aiming for a limited number of slots in the already full race schedule.

Original Source: www.autosport.com