FORMULA ONE CEO Stefano Domenicali has teased plans to add a mouthwatering new race to the calendar.
The boom in popularity of F1 since the takeover of Liberty Media has seen an increase in the number of races during the season from 20 in 2017 to 24 in 2025 – the most there have ever been.
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However, expanding the calendar even more, or at least replacing traditional races with new markets, is an idea actively being explored by F1 chiefs.
The 2025 F1 season is starting this weekend in Melbourne, Australia, however, straight afterwards Domenicali has revealed he will be travelling to Thailand to discuss a potential race being held in Bangkok.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Domenicali said: “I think that the good thing that we were able to do in the last couple of years is to focus on the places that we do believe represent the future for F1.
“We receive a lot of attention from other places in the world.
“By the way, I’m just finishing the race here in Melbourne, I go to Bangkok to see [if] there is a potential interest from the government to develop something there.”
Thailand is reported to have welcomed more than 35 million tourists in 2024 – the highest numbers since 2017.
And it is estimated that in 2023 more than 460,000 tourists from the United Kingdom made the journey to the Southeast Asian country.
So it would stand to reason that an F1 race in Thailand would also attract plenty of tourists from the UK.
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Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin was seen in attendance at last season’s Emilia Romagna Grand Prix before he revealed there had been discussions over a race in the country.
He had written: “In line with the Thai Government’s intention to bring F1 racing to Thailand in the near future, I visited the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari and had a discussion with executives of the Formula One Group.
“This resonates with our policy to place Thailand on the global radar for international events and activities.”
This season F1 has three races in Asia; China, Japan and Singapore, while there have previously been races in Malaysia, South Korea and India.
F1 was set to host the first ever Vietnam GP after signing a 10-year deal in 2018 worth £540million.
However, it was axed due to the coronavirus pandemic and later dropped and deserted after city mayor Nguyen Duc Chung – a major supporter of the race – was arrested and later sent to prison on charges of corruption.
Earlier this week, it was announced Domenicali had signed a new deal to carry on as F1 CEO until 2029.
Races all over the world have been touted, with potential returns to Africa and a new race in South America, possibly Argentina, being heavily speculated.
Domenicali added: “We have other places in Europe, and as you know there are interests in Africa, there are interests in South America now.”
However, adding a new street race to the calendar may spark controversy among fans who are upset that traditional tracks are being replaced by tracks which are not designed to promote good racing.
Las Vegas has been a controversial addition to the calendar despite the spectacle it delivers, while Miami has also proven to be divisive among fans for the quality of racing it produces.
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