Formula One interested in second race in South-east Asia

MONTE CARLO – Formula One is seeing a surge of interest in China and could easily add a second race in South-east Asia, according to the boss of the sport’s owners Liberty Media.

Chief executive officer Greg Maffei said on the sidelines of this week’s Monaco Grand Prix that Thailand, South Korea and Indonesia were all interested in hosting an Asian round, with the championship currently at a record 24 races.

South Korea previously hosted a GP in Yeongam but organisers are now interested in bringing racing to Seoul. Thailand’s Prime Minister attended last weekend’s race, with talk of a race in Bangkok, while Liberty Media recently acquired MotoGP, which has races in Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia.

Formula One returned to China this season after a four-year absence due to Covid-19, with Sauber’s Zhou Guanyu making his home debut.

“We’re lucky that we were able to get a Chinese race off this year after four years (out),” Maffei said at an event attended by Las Vegas GP promoters.

“It was very successful. The interest in China has exploded in part because we now have a Chinese driver. And there’s a lot of interest across Asia... Thailand, Seoul, we’ve had interest from Indonesia.

“There are lots of places which want a Formula One race and we really look to the intersection of where our fans are and where they could be, who could run a great race and who can frankly afford a race. I think you could very easily see a second one in South-east Asia.”

Singapore is the only South-east Asian race after Malaysia’s round was dropped. Thailand is represented on the Formula One grid by British-born Williams driver Alex Albon, whose mother is Thai.

Maffei also said that Formula One, which has invested heavily in Las Vegas, hoped to build on last season’s inaugural night grand prix on the famed Strip, where problems with loose drain covers halted practice.

“We would surely like to make more money in Las Vegas but over time, I expect we will,” he said.

“I think we’ll be smarter next time. And we’ll be more efficient and will probably be less disruptive to the community and understand better what the fans want.”

In other news, outgoing Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz is reportedly no longer under consideration to replace seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes.

Sainz is seeking clarity on his next move in the coming weeks, but Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff continues to evaluate the performance of rising junior driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli.

“Why isn’t Carlos Sainz going to Mercedes? That conversation has already been had... The timescale Mercedes are working towards in terms of making their decision doesn’t fit with what Carlos Sainz wants,” Sky Sports reporter Craig Slater said.

“He wants his contract situation sorted in the next few weeks rather than months.”

Williams have emerged as a surprise contender to sign the Spaniard, who has also reportedly received an offer from Sauber.

Motorsport.com reported on May 23 that Sainz has been in discussions with Williams, who recently re-signed Albon to a multi-year deal. REUTERS, AFP