The 2025 season for the world's top open-wheel racing series already spans 24 weekends across 21 countries. This adrenaline-pumping sport will race across continents, but only three stops are in Asia – Singapore, China and Japan. While these countries have been key players for years, Thailand has been making its presence felt in the motorsport world. With MotoGP already calling the kingdom home, it's clear we're more than just spectators – we're part of the action. And now, there's talk of Bangkok joining the Formula 1 grid by 2028, which could put the country firmly on the global racing map.
After kicking off the 2025 season in Melbourne, Australia and before heading to Shanghai for the next race, Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali made a pit stop in the Big Mango. He met with Thailand’s Prime Minister, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, to discuss the possibility of bringing F1 to Thailand.
During their conversation, it became clear that F1 is looking for a stable, government-backed Grand Prix venue in Asia, ideally secured for the long term. While some F1 fans dream of a street circuit like those in Singapore or Monaco, the discussion leaned towards a permanent track that offers a more sustainable solution. Let’s face it, the streets in the capital can be pretty bumpy and shutting down Bangkok’s roads for a week would be mayhem.
Instead, they’re eyeing the Mo Chit Bus Terminal near Chatuchak Park as a potential site, as the government plans to relocate the station. This location would keep the city’s bustling energy alive while offering fans a fresh racing experience.
In fact, Thailand is no stranger to Formula 1 as Thai-British driver Alex Albon flies the Thai flag as part of the Williams team. Plus, Thai billionaire Chalerm Yoovidhya owns 51% of Red Bull GmbH, the parent company of Red Bull Racing, which saw Max Verstappen win the championship last year.
With such strong ties to the sport, an F1 race in Bangkok would undoubtedly have local and international fan support, while also attracting a surge of tourists. After all, we wouldn’t need to fly to Singapore to catch the action anymore.