Bangkok Gears Up for 2028 Formula One Grand Prix with New Plans

[snoop1130]

Photo courtesy of Bangkok Post

 

Thailand is on track to host a Formula One (F1) race in Bangkok’s Chatuchak district by 2028, following a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed by the Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT) and F1. This announcement comes after F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali’s meeting with Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra to discuss the potential Grand Prix.

 

Dr Kongsak Yodmanee, SAT Governor, unveiled the MOU at a recent press briefing, expressing optimism about Chatuchak as the primary venue. “Our focus is Chatuchak first. If all proceeds smoothly, it will be pivotal for F1 and Thailand,” he noted. Alternative locations, such as other areas of Bangkok and Chon Buri, are also being considered to accommodate any logistical challenges.

 

 

 

The project seeks to elevate Thailand's profile in global motorsport. Enthusiasm from F1 officials suggests Chatuchak could host one of the world’s most captivating races. However, organisers emphasise community support as essential. Dr Kongsak assured, “We aim to benefit all, especially locals, by mitigating environmental and noise impacts.”

 

Details of the MOU are under wraps, yet it signifies a three-year collaboration focusing on data analysis, design, and scheduling. With engines revving and plans accelerating, Bangkok is inching closer to hosting a thrilling new chapter in the F1 saga, reported The Thaiger.

 

-- 2025-03-26

 

 

[Don Giovanni]

4 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

Our focus is Chatuchak first. If all proceeds smoothly, it will be pivotal for F1 and Thailand,” he noted. Alternative locations, such as other areas of Bangkok and Chon Buri

Better sort the potholes in the road out first.

 

That will probably take a lot longer than 3 years.

 

Don.

 

 

[Ben Zioner]

If I was was a F1 driver I'd bail out on that one.

 

Just as I would refuse to play in the FIFA WC 2028, if I was a soccer player. The latter for much better reasons. 

 

Boycott FIFA WC 2028. 

 

Same same Moscow 1980.

[redwood1]

 Chatuchak ?

 

Hey a perfect excuse for tearing down the Chatuchak market like they have been itching to do....Hey we MUST have a large area for all those race cars......And unfortunately the market has to go...

[User One]

4 hours ago, Ben Zioner said:

Boycott FIFA WC 2028.

That's right. Exclude yourself. It will be better there without ones like you 😉👍

[DonniePeverley]

4 hours ago, redwood1 said:

 Chatuchak ?

 

Hey a perfect excuse for tearing down the Chatuchak market like they have been itching to do....Hey we MUST have a large area for all those race cars......And unfortunately the market has to go...

 

It's a huge tourist draw. Why do they want to get rid of something that brings in tourism? Tourism is there only booming industry.

[connda]

Commoners need not believe that will be allowed anywhere near the races. 
By the Rich, For the Rich. 

[puck2]

Thailand does not yet have enough pollution. Now they like to add the "Formula One Grand Prix".

 

Congratulation to the money-maker-criminals

[SABloke]

I'm just here to see who comes up with the first "original" Tuk-tuk, somtam cart, Win rider, wrong way comment 🤪

[Spilornis]

Interesting and surprising. Thailand must be prepared to pay very big money. Street circuits make for great viewing but they are costly and disruptive to build and dismantle each year.

Timing wise will it be in the "Singapore" window (September) or the South East Asian window (March/April).

Finally will it be a night or day race

[JimHuaHin]

So, this is the current government's main priority?  Increased poverty, corruption, pollution, criminality, private debt, suicides, etc.,  as well as declining public health are not as important as having a Great Prick race in Bangkok?

[newbee2022]

15 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Photo courtesy of Bangkok Post

 

Thailand is on track to host a Formula One (F1) race in Bangkok’s Chatuchak district by 2028, following a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed by the Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT) and F1. This announcement comes after F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali’s meeting with Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra to discuss the potential Grand Prix.

 

Dr Kongsak Yodmanee, SAT Governor, unveiled the MOU at a recent press briefing, expressing optimism about Chatuchak as the primary venue. “Our focus is Chatuchak first. If all proceeds smoothly, it will be pivotal for F1 and Thailand,” he noted. Alternative locations, such as other areas of Bangkok and Chon Buri, are also being considered to accommodate any logistical challenges.

 

 

 

The project seeks to elevate Thailand's profile in global motorsport. Enthusiasm from F1 officials suggests Chatuchak could host one of the world’s most captivating races. However, organisers emphasise community support as essential. Dr Kongsak assured, “We aim to benefit all, especially locals, by mitigating environmental and noise impacts.”

 

Details of the MOU are under wraps, yet it signifies a three-year collaboration focusing on data analysis, design, and scheduling. With engines revving and plans accelerating, Bangkok is inching closer to hosting a thrilling new chapter in the F1 saga, reported The Thaiger.

 

-- 2025-03-26

 

 

It's amazing where the money should come from.

I hope from Red bull heir, Paetongtarn, Thaksin and higher Hi-Sos'. 😳

[iaminwa]

Can I place a bet somewhere online that this will not happen?

[Maejo Man]

Where is the 8 billion baht coming from to enter? Plus all the outgoings for future races. Somehow I can't see this eventuating any time soon.

[node]

They never stated how they will use that place after (1) week.

Rain here,  June - October, November - January so much Formula 1 around the world, February to May burning and pollution.

Nice Politicians talk.

[Snackbar]

Amazing Thailand 

[jaywalker-2]

Does anybody recall the "Half Marathon" a few years back? it wound up being 1.5 times as long as it was supposed to be?

 

Where oh where shall the Soidogs be during this event?

 

I hit a soidog going 100 kph (it ran out in front of me and tore the front end off my Niaasan truck)....I never slowed down due the fear of a mob demanding 10,000 baht from the Farang.....(he was a special dog ya know...)

[Franky0815]

I think the Thai people are happy for the government about F1 and will surely watch the race on TV...

[Boedog]

Thailand can become the F1 hub, alot of corrupt politians and Generals rubbing there hands together in anticipation of the big fat brown envelopes this will generate for them

[crazykopite]

Yet more pie in the sky or pigs might fly  but have to give them ten out of ten for dreaming !

[ronster]

Meeting all the safety standards will be time consuming and expensive , getting the road surface in acceptable condition will be more time and money and then add traffic chaos for days .

Just imagine a massive hole appears in the street as a pile of cars scream towards it , not to mention I guess they will have to cull or round up all stray animals in the area .

[Jeff the Chef]

https://sites.lsa.umich.edu/mje/2024/04/29/is-hosting-an-f1-race-financially-feasible/

 

Formula One: it is the pinnacle of motorsport, the highest and fastest form of it. The wealthiest individuals pay exorbitant amounts to watch it, the largest corporations vie for limited spots to sponsor it and team owners take on huge premiums to put their drivers behind the wheel. Despite all this, it still is a huge financial burden on the local governments and private track owners who team up to fund and host Formula One Grand Prix (Balla, 2023). Profits are not guaranteed and sometimes breaking even is considered lucky. So how is this even possible? How is success so hard in an industry pulling in so much money?

To answer that question, it is important to start at the beginning of the business operation track owners embark on in hosting. And from the beginning they are already losing money. If they do not already have one, they must design and build a track typically costing upwards of $270 million, with yearly maintenance fees averaging $18.5 million (Balla, 2023). Moreover, these costs do not even include the necessary track additions for races such as grandstands (~$14 million), safety barriers and fencing (~$8 million), race pits, offices, parking lots etc., (Sylt, 2017). But if miraculously, owners already have all this, they do not avoid paying up. After a track is in place and Liberty Media, the owner of Formula One, has completed its necessary track inspections, track hosts must pay a hosting/race promotion fee to Liberty Media. This fee must be paid for every single race hosted and is estimated to be between $15-50 million and upwards for prime time races like the Qatar Grand Prix towards the end of the season (Bodsworth, 2023).

So at this point everything should be finalized and Liberty Media should have its full profit, right? Unfortunately, no. Liberty Media continues to take more. All revenue from track sponsors and broadcasting rights for races goes to Liberty Media. And for the 2023 season, sponsorship revenue came out to $445 million (Cronin, 2023) while for the 2022 season (2023 results not in yet) broadcasting revenue came out to be $936 million (Agini, 2023; Cronin, 2023). So as unfortunate as it is, track owners are left with very little revenues from Grand Prix. Ticket revenues end up being their sole source of income, which in most cases is just not enough to be profitable.

[Clarkey611]

51 minutes ago, Maejo Man said:

Where is the 8 billion baht coming from to enter? Plus all the outgoings for future races. Somehow I can't see this eventuating any time soon.

Maybe they can use some of the money from the Submarine saving. However, it would be better to spend some money on curing the smog, so that people could actually see the race. 

[RayOday]

Corrupt incompetence can't keep the populace alive on Rama 2 so they fiddle around trying to have Formula 1?

 

Ironic that a country that can't enforce road safety wants to host F1.

Can the the failures of the public trust, with respect to road transport, be expected to execute an F1 race? If I was a F1 driver I would protest to keep it in a  competent location like Singapore. 

 

Let them hold the race on Rama 2. Maybe that way they will do something to stop the carnage. (I know, Rama 2 was a failed plan even on paper but since the administration won't acknowledge their complicity then at least try to make it work without killing anymore people).

 

 

[hotchilli]

17 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Thailand is on track to host a Formula One (F1) race in Bangkok’s Chatuchak district by 2028, following a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed by the Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT) and F1. This announcement comes after F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali’s meeting with Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra to discuss the potential Grand Prix.

I wonder who's going to pay for the build and future maintenance of the track?

[kuzmabruk]

16 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

I wonder who's going to pay for the build and future maintenance of the track?

Most likely Thaksin as the race will probably be moved to land he owns and the prime minister will have the government purchase the land for only 25 times what her dad paid for it.  Such a deal can’t be turned down.   I really hope he moves it to Na Jomtien.   

[Thingamabob]

As a former club racer, and a follower of F1 since my parents took me aged 8 to watch the first ever F1 grand Prix at Silverstone in 1950, I just wonder if the Thais pushing for this know or care about the enormous cost, disruption, effort, knowledge and skill required to organise an event such as this. But, TIT, so it may well happen notwithstanding all the complicated issues involved.

[recom273]

51 minutes ago, Jeff the Chef said:

https://sites.lsa.umich.edu/mje/2024/04/29/is-hosting-an-f1-race-financially-feasible/

 

Formula One: it is the pinnacle of motorsport, the highest and fastest form of it. The wealthiest individuals pay exorbitant amounts to watch it, the largest corporations vie for limited spots to sponsor it and team owners take on huge premiums to put their drivers behind the wheel. Despite all this, it still is a huge financial burden on the local governments and private track owners who team up to fund and host Formula One Grand Prix (Balla, 2023). Profits are not guaranteed and sometimes breaking even is considered lucky. So how is this even possible? How is success so hard in an industry pulling in so much money?

To answer that question, it is important to start at the beginning of the business operation track owners embark on in hosting. And from the beginning they are already losing money. If they do not already have one, they must design and build a track typically costing upwards of $270 million, with yearly maintenance fees averaging $18.5 million (Balla, 2023). Moreover, these costs do not even include the necessary track additions for races such as grandstands (~$14 million), safety barriers and fencing (~$8 million), race pits, offices, parking lots etc., (Sylt, 2017). But if miraculously, owners already have all this, they do not avoid paying up. After a track is in place and Liberty Media, the owner of Formula One, has completed its necessary track inspections, track hosts must pay a hosting/race promotion fee to Liberty Media. This fee must be paid for every single race hosted and is estimated to be between $15-50 million and upwards for prime time races like the Qatar Grand Prix towards the end of the season (Bodsworth, 2023).

So at this point everything should be finalized and Liberty Media should have its full profit, right? Unfortunately, no. Liberty Media continues to take more. All revenue from track sponsors and broadcasting rights for races goes to Liberty Media. And for the 2023 season, sponsorship revenue came out to $445 million (Cronin, 2023) while for the 2022 season (2023 results not in yet) broadcasting revenue came out to be $936 million (Agini, 2023; Cronin, 2023). So as unfortunate as it is, track owners are left with very little revenues from Grand Prix. Ticket revenues end up being their sole source of income, which in most cases is just not enough to be profitable.

 

This is what they want! The ultra-rich who own the companies that get the contracts, its not about a profit for the race, its about a huge rake off of government funds. This is a big gift fro, Tony T to his mates.

 

Not to mention everyone in local government, the generals and the police - It cost India a reported 500M USD to host a race for 3 years, they all want their cut!

[dinsdale]

A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), also known as a Letter of Intent (LOI) or Letter of Agreement (LOA), is a formal, yet non-binding agreement between two or more parties that outlines their intentions, roles, and objectives, serving as a mutual acknowledgment of potential outcomes and processes. (AI def.)

17 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Thailand is on track to host a Formula One (F1) race in Bangkok’s Chatuchak district by 2028, following a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed by the Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT) and F1.

So talks are happening. That's that. MOU is most definitely no done deal. 2028! 3 years from now. What are these guys on?

[sungod]

Maybe with such a high profile event such as F1, where the world's eyes are looking in, it could actually encourage someone to do something about the pollution.