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The Thai Grand Prix project in limbo due to a new political crisis?
© Clement Marin / DPPI
Until a few days ago, Thailand seemed to be one of the countries with the best chance of joining the calendar of the Formula 1 in the coming years. Liberty Media even went in this direction, affirming its ambitions to ultimately organize a second Grand Prix in South-East Asia after Singapore.
« There is a lot of interest in Asia, admitted Greg Maffei, CEO of Liberty Media, a few months ago. There are a lot of countries that want a Formula 1 race and we're really looking to find out where our fans are and where they could be, who could put on a big race and who can frankly afford [to put on] a race . I think we could very well see a second [Grand Prize] in Southeast Asia »
A meeting even took place last May on the occasion of the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix, between Formula 1 and the Thai general staff, represented by its Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin. In June, the latter raised the possibility of hosting the paddock near Bangkok or Pattaya, including U-Tapao airport, on an urban or semi-urban circuit by 2027/2028.
Unfortunately, plans have changed. Indeed, for several days, Thailand has been affected by a political crisis which led to the departure of Srettha Thavisin, less than a year after his appointment. The latter was simply dismissed by the Thai Constitutional Court, accused of having appointed a minister sentenced in 2008 to a prison sentence, thus violating the ethics rules set out in the Constitution.
This new period of instability in the Kingdom could have an impact on the organization of a possible Thai Grand Prix in the future. At a time when the Asian country was aiming to one day bring F1, its successor, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, elected this Friday, August 16, could put the project on hold, the time to restore order to the local political landscape. One thing is certain, with the departure of Srettha Thavisin, he has lost significant support.
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Gonzalo Forbes
In charge of promotion formulas (F2, F3, FRECA, F4...). Carried by the grace of Franco Colapinto.
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dedeHJ37
17/08/2024 at 02:48 a.m.
why not a grand prix in greenland? no automobile culture but Liberty Media doesn't care at all as much as it doesn't care about the automobile culture of France, Beau de Rochas who is at the origin of the internal combustion engine must turn in his grave when he sees how Liberty media considers France, miserable Very Incompetent People greedy for money
Yves-Henri RANDIER
17/08/2024 at 01:41 a.m.
Surprising that the name of the Thai family who created the famous drink that inspired Red Bull is not more present in this project, especially when a Thai driver is present on the F1 grid! As for Rwanda, the autocrat Kagame was probably in power until his death after having modified the constitution in his favor, the project risks moving forward especially since sportwashing is one of the priority axes for this small landlocked African country and without any car culture!
YVES CHAMPOD
17/08/2024 at 11:19 a.m.
And what about the GP in Rwanda? ! ?