Thai PM shifts gears: Thailand aims to race onto F1 calendar

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin seized the opportunity to explore the potential for Thailand to host a Formula One race in 2027 or 2028 during his official visit to Italy from May 17 to 21.

Visiting the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari circuit in Imola, near Bologna for the Emilio-Romagna Grand Prix this past weekend, he engaged in discussions with the F1 Group regarding this possibility.

Shared on X, formerly Twitter, the Bangkok-born Prime Minister Thavisin expressed his belief in Thailand’s capacity to host such a prestigious event, highlighting its potential to attract tourism to the capital city.

Additionally, the PM also made time with Alexander Albon Ansusinha, the Thai-British driver representing the Williams team. He commended Albon’s skills and expressed hope that the racer would serve as an inspiration to Thai youth aspiring to pursue careers in motorsport.

“I believe that Thailand has the opportunity to host an F1 race in 2027 or 2028 in Bangkok to attract both investors and tourists. A feasibility study is currently underway.

“During my visit to the circuit, I met with Alex, the Thai-British driver from the Williams team competing here. I feel proud of the abilities of Thai individuals and hope that Alex will be an inspiration to Thai youth aspiring to pursue careers in racing.”

This visit serves as a development to the PM’s growing interest in hosting a grand prix event on the streets of Bangkok following the PM’s meeting with F1 Chief Executive Stefano Domenicali last month, which discussed Thailand’s eligibility to host an F1 race.

Initial assessments underway

According to Government Deputy Spokesperson Rudklao Suwankiri, F1 executives were in Bangkok to survey and survey roads and identify possible routes for the street circuit following the formal invitation from the PM.

Prior successes of the Singapore Grand Prix since its debut in 2008 acted as a blueprint to follow for a possible race in Bangkok. Located at the Marina Bay waterfront, the street circuit generated around US$ 2 billion (63 billion baht) of incremental tourism, according to the island’s government.

According to the Deputy Secretary-General to the premier, Jakkaphon Tangsutthitham, Thailand could generate over 1,000 jobs, and over 4 billion baht in economic value if the country could obtain the rights to host an F1 race, reported Bangkok Post.

The PM’s administration has set a goal of attracting 80 million tourists by 2027, and hosting a grand prix on the streets of Bangkok would act as a catalyst to achieving those numbers, in conjunction with the temporary visa waivers for travellers from India, China, Taiwan, and Kazakhstan.