Alex Albon visits Thai PM as Formula 1 bid talk continues

Thai driver Alex Albon has met the country’s Prime Minister, Paetongtarn Shinawatraas, as they continue to push for a place on the Formula 1 grid.

Albon’s visit this week follows F1 boss Stefano Domenicali’s meeting with Shinawatra after the Australian Grand Prix.

Last year, Domenicali told ESPN that F1 has interest from “more than 35 venues,” around 11 of which were considered serious contenders.

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

On Thailand’s interest, he said: “There is a potential interest from the government to develop something there.”

Albon’s visit will only amplify the interest around the current proposal.

Talking during the Chinese Grand Prix about the Thai race plan, Albon said: “It’s very exciting, clearly — for myself and for all of Formula 1, not just me. Thailand is an amazing country, and I’m sure people who have been to Thailand will vouch for that.

“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.”

F1 has enjoyed a boom in popularity this decade and the calendar has grown to a 24 events recently.

There is a new race in Madrid joining next year, taking the place of the existing Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona.

Source: espn.com