Alex Albon has revealed that he is working with the government of Thailand to help bring a Formula 1 Grand Prix to the country.
The Southeast Asian nation has appeared to be on the cusp of securing a deal to ensure its place on the F1 calendar within the next few years for some time.
Just last week, it was revealed that its cabinet had set aside $1.2 billion to make a bid to make this dream a reality, with its Minister for Sport having visited the Monaco Grand Prix last month.
Earlier in the year, F1’s CEO Stefano Domenicali visited the country and revealed it had an “impressive plan” to host a race.
And now its native driver has stepped in to try and ramp up its chances to bring single-seater motor racing there for the very first time.
Speaking ahead of this weekend’s Austrian Grand Prix, Albon said: “It looks like it’s becoming more and more real,” adding: “Obviously, Thailand is quite big with the tourism industry and Formula 1 fits their narrative perfectly.
“I do think it’s going to be really good for the country. It seems like they’re taking it very seriously as well.
“They’ve come to a lot of races and I’m not sure if they’re going to be here this weekend. But they’ve been coming to pretty much the last two or three races.
“And it’s all going forward. There’s not been any setbacks so far, which is obviously very important. I can’t really say so much.
“But everything I’ve seen – the circuit, the initial plans – it all looks really promising.”
Potential Bangkok circuit ‘out of the way’ of the city centre
The topic of Thailand increasing its interest in motor racing has been a longstanding one, with it originally being touted to host a Formula E race before F1, but the ousting of its then-Prime Minister curtailed the plans.
And despite its current premier, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, being under pressure back home, it appears that it is not causing any fissures in the plans to bring Formula 1 to its shores.
Albon revealed that the circuit would be, due to the infrastructural difficulties, on the outskirts of the city than within it.
“It’s not in central Bangkok, I can say that. If you’ve ever been to Thailand and Bangkok, you know the traffic situation there is not great. So, it’s more out of the way,” he ssaid.
“They’re doing a lot of work with the infrastructure and the logistics, getting people in and out.
“The track itself is… I wouldn’t call it your classic street track. Not the ones that we usually see in the last few years. I think it’s got more character than that, which is positive.”
Albon revealed that, despite its apparent insability, the government is hugely in favour of the plans.
“I think in the end, the government is really supportive around it. So it doesn’t require me to be too vocal or informed about it.
“But at the same time, I want it to be a success. So going into this year, next year, the work that we’re doing to promote Formula 1 within Thailand, motorsport within Thailand, we’re working with the government and everyone very closely.
“The sports tourism, general tourism as well. Really trying to engage with everyone and get it as big as we can.”
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