Domenicali Confirms Talks for Thailand Grand Prix Amid F1 Expansion
Stefano Domenicali, F1’s president, discusses potential Thailand Grand Prix plans, highlighting the need for quality in the sport’s future race calendar. He confirms advanced talks with Thai officials and enforces a strategy to manage an expanding list of races while enhancing fan engagement and welcomed innovations with Cadillac joining the grid.
Formula One president and CEO Stefano Domenicali has shared that intensive negotiations are underway with Thailand to potentially host a Grand Prix. This initiative reflects F1’s commitment to expanding its presence in Asia while adhering to a strategy prioritizing quality over quantity in its increasingly packed race calendar.
During the 2025 Chinese Grand Prix weekend, Domenicali disclosed that Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has shown substantial enthusiasm for bringing a Grand Prix to Thailand. He noted, “The government of Thailand, the prime minister, were really interested to develop a project. We should finalize something in the next months,” while also acknowledging the importance of managing expectations.
As F1 adjusts to a record 24-race schedule set for the 2024 season, Domenicali highlighted the need for balance. Although the sport currently spans five continents, including seven Asian races, new events like a Thailand Grand Prix might necessitate existing races to be rotated or removed from the calendar. He stated, “We don’t want to go over 24 races. It’s a matter of working with opportunities.”
The focus remains on enhancing the fan experience rather than simply increasing the number of races. Domenicali emphasized the importance of working with promoters to ensure the quality of events remains high, supporting this philosophy with his recent five-year contract extension, keeping him at the helm of F1 until 2029.
In terms of future developments, F1 is set to welcome Cadillac as its 11th team in 2026, supported by General Motors. Domenicali described this entry as significant for innovation, stating, “Cadillac brings technology and expertise. It’s beneficial to our sport,” although he indicated that adding more teams is not in line with F1’s current strategy, reiterating that quality must take precedence over quantity.
In summary, Stefano Domenicali’s discussions with Thailand indicate a strategic effort by Formula One to broaden its appeal in Asia while maintaining a focus on the quality of racing events. The integration of Cadillac as a new team further demonstrates F1’s dedication to innovation, yet the leadership emphasizes the importance of balancing the number of races and improving fan experiences.
Original Source: english.news.cn
