Stefano Domenicali has left the door ajar for a future Formula 1 Thailand Grand Prix after seeing “impressive” plans for a street race in Bangkok.
The F1 CEO travelled to the capital of Thailand after the season-opening Australian Grand Prix and ahead of this weekend’s race in China.
Thailand has been keen to land a place on the F1 calendar for some time and previous prime minister Srettha Thavisin attended the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix last year to hold talks with Domenicali.
The conversations have continued with Thavisin’s successor and Domenicali met with her on Tuesday morning.
“I was delighted to meet with Paetongtarn Shinawatra, the prime minister of Thailand, and her team today to discuss their impressive plans to host a race in Bangkok,” he said. “I am looking forward to continuing our discussions in the weeks and months ahead.”
It was announced last week that Domenicali would continue as the F1 CEO for at least a further five years and, over the course of his extended deal, taking F1 to new markets will be a key target for the ex-Ferrari boss.
“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,” he told Sky Sports F1 during the Australian Grand Prix weekend.
“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'm going to Bangkok - there is a potential interest from the government to develop something there.
“We have other places in Europe, and as you know there are interests in Africa, there are interests in South America now.”
Rwanda, which hosted the 2024 FIA Gala, has announced its ambition to bring F1 back to Africa – although there have since been calls for the series not to head to the country by representatives of the Democratic Republic of Congo amid conflict in the region.
Meanwhile, at last year’s United States Grand Prix, Domenicali hinted that Argentina could return to the F1 calendar, having last hosted a round of the championship in 1998.
