Alex Albon meets Thai PM Paetongtarn Shinawatra as they continue to push for a place on the F1 grid

Thailand's pursuit to become part of the Formula 1 calendar is gaining serious momentum. Thai driver Alex Albon Ansusinha has played a pioneering role in Thailand's bid to stage a Formula 1 Grand Prix and has met this week with Thailand's Prime Minister, Paetongtarn Shinawatra. The meeting follows F1 chief executive Stefano Domenicali's meeting with Shinawatra after the Australian Grand Prix, marking increased momentum for the bid.


The 29-year-old Thai-British Formula 1 driver met with Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra at the Government House and expressed his excitement to be back home: “I am very happy and excited to be back home in Thailand to spend time with my family and fans before the next block of races. I have five races inside six weeks, but it is very important for me to come home and bring positivity to the region, especially after the recent earthquake that has affected so many people and their homes. My heart and thoughts go out to you, and I will be racing for you in Japan this weekend.”
F1's international popularity has boomed over the past few years, resulting in interest from more than 35 potential sites, with some 11 serious candidates for upcoming races. Albon, who drives for Williams Racing at present, was thrilled at the idea of hosting F1 in Thailand. In his comments at the Chinese Grand Prix, the Thai-British driver outlined why the nation is an interesting place to host the sport.
“There is a potential interest from the government to develop something there.” Albon said during the Chinese Grand Prix, according to ESPN, “I'd be excited to hopefully one day show my colleagues the culture of Thailand, the food ... It will be interesting with the heat -- that's one area that might make it a Singapore 2.0. But all the more for it. On my side, I'm doing everything I can to make that happen. But let's see.”
Earlier, F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali, who traveled to Bangkok straight after the Australian Grand Prix, hailed the plans for a prospective race in Bangkok's Chatuchak district to make its debut in 2028. “I am looking forward to continuing our discussions in the weeks and months ahead,” said Domenicali, according to a report by Motorsport Nextgen.

Formula 1 has expanded to 24 races in its latest calendar, with Madrid set to replace Barcelona as the host of the Spanish Grand Prix next year. While Thailand faces stiff competition from other prospective venues, government backing and Albon’s involvement could strengthen its bid.
Also read: Thai F1 star Alex Albon stands in solidarity with home country after devastating earthquake
As F1 continues to grow its presence in Asia, a Thai Grand Prix might become a reality soon. In the meantime, the nation's bid remains to pick up pace, with Albon being an important figure in making the sport accessible closer to home.