This has an interesting twist on F1 Thailand 

 

https://www.planetf1.com/features/fia-grade-1-circuits-unused-f1

If you're refering to the Buriram circuit being up to standard, which it more or less is, that's been discussed several times.  There are a few facilities, medical etc that would need changes but the main problem is the lack of hotels and restaurants - that was what I was told by a member of the Mercedes team at the Abu Dhai GP in 2017. Apparently the FIA, Thai authorities and the circuit's owner had been discussing the matter since the Buriram circuit opened in 2014.

 

F1 weekends can attract close to 500k visitors whereas the record attendance at Buriram for the 2024 MotoGP was just over 224k.  Many F1 spectators are also a different breed and don't want to camp etc. as many MotoGP attendees do. There are quite a few newish hotels in Buriram now and the city is growing but there's nowhere near enough and nobody's going to build them for one weekend's use per year.

 

I'd love to see F1 come to Thailand but in all honesty, I can't see in happening. Given Thailand's record for corruption, the FIA's scrutiny would be massive - no 'wrong concrete' allowed as happened at Suvarnabhumi.

13 hours ago, MangoKorat said:

If you're refering to the Buriram circuit being up to standard, which it more or less is, that's been discussed several times.  There are a few facilities, medical etc that would need changes but the main problem is the lack of hotels and restaurants - that was what I was told by a member of the Mercedes team at the Abu Dhai GP in 2017. Apparently the FIA, Thai authorities and the circuit's owner had been discussing the matter since the Buriram circuit opened in 2014.

 

F1 weekends can attract close to 500k visitors whereas the record attendance at Buriram for the 2024 MotoGP was just over 224k.  Many F1 spectators are also a different breed and don't want to camp etc. as many MotoGP attendees do. There are quite a few newish hotels in Buriram now and the city is growing but there's nowhere near enough and nobody's going to build them for one weekend's use per year.

 

I'd love to see F1 come to Thailand but in all honesty, I can't see in happening. Given Thailand's record for corruption, the FIA's scrutiny would be massive - no 'wrong concrete' allowed as happened at Suvarnabhumi.

 Oh I fully agree, but I found it interesting that Chidchob paid the money to get it set for F1.  As well as all the other competitive tracks out there.  I am willing to bet that if he thought he had a chance once Thaksin is out of the way, the hotels and such would miraculously appear, along with a casino and entertainment area.

On 6/22/2025 at 4:59 AM, kingstonkid said:

 Oh I fully agree, but I found it interesting that Chidchob paid the money to get it set for F1.  As well as all the other competitive tracks out there.  I am willing to bet that if he thought he had a chance once Thaksin is out of the way, the hotels and such would miraculously appear, along with a casino and entertainment area.

I would not be at all surprised if he (and the Thai authorities) thought it would be a formality - especially as the MotoGP race has bee so successful.  I doubt they would realise that the 2 sports are both closely releated and oceans apart.

9 hours ago, MangoKorat said:

I would not be at all surprised if he (and the Thai authorities) thought it would be a formality - especially as the MotoGP race has bee so successful.  I doubt they would realise that the 2 sports are both closely releated and oceans apart.

Part of the dream was probably for Buriram to grow as a city. Unfortunately,  it hasn't. They need more events and to make it more widely known.  now tht the government has removed all supposrt for MOTOGP it is goingot be interesting to see what happens at the track.  Like everything else in this country Thaksin has screwed things up more.  Consider you are F1 and one of the things you use is an abilty t host big events and the Thai governemnt pulls the support for the biggest racing how do you look at their stabilty. 

21 hours ago, kingstonkid said:

Consider you are F1 and one of the things you use is an abilty t host big events and the Thai governemnt pulls the support for the biggest racing how do you look at their stabilty. 

In much the same way as they will look at everything else concerning the F1 proposal with a large dose of scepticism. The Thai gov will think that they can just agree to do this and that but not actually do them. Unless F1's Ethos has changed since Liberty Media took over, the gov will find that they are dealing with a completely different animal to other organisations they deal with.  If F1 has a requirement, they will learn (probably the hard way) that it is an actual requirement and that checks will be made to ensure its taken place. It will not be able to be passed aside in the same way as the annual road safety announcements and promises to equalise the national park charges are.

 

That brings about an interesting prospect - just let them try charging foreigners more for grandstand seating etc. - no way on the planet will F1 allow that.

1 hour ago, MangoKorat said:

In much the same way as they will look at everything else concerning the F1 proposal with a large dose of scepticism. The Thai gov will think that they can just agree to do this and that but not actually do them. Unless F1's Ethos has changed since Liberty Media took over, the gov will find that they are dealing with a completely different animal to other organisations they deal with.  If F1 has a requirement, they will learn (probably the hard way) that it is an actual requirement and that checks will be made to ensure its taken place. It will not be able to be passed aside in the same way as the annual road safety announcements and promises to equalise the national park charges are.

 

That brings about an interesting prospect - just let them try charging foreigners more for grandstand seating etc. - no way on the planet will F1 allow that.

Ther can not be dual pricing it will be geared to bringing in tourists and the F1 followers.  Thais will attend but they are goingto have to save up.  If you look at some of the activities such as motogp and large scale western events there is only 1 levelof pricing.  

 

The dual system is where poor Thais may want to go, not for things that make money.  As to it being a Thai thing, forget it, some countries have 3-4 levels of pricing depending on where you come from.  India dnd Pakistan are well known for this.