Thai Cabinet Approves $1.2 Bln Bid to Host Formula 1 Race in 2028 

Mercedes driver George Russell, of the United Kingdom, drives during Formula One auto racing action at the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal, Sunday, June 15, 2025. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)
Mercedes driver George Russell, of the United Kingdom, drives during Formula One auto racing action at the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal, Sunday, June 15, 2025. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)
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Thai Cabinet Approves $1.2 Bln Bid to Host Formula 1 Race in 2028 

Mercedes driver George Russell, of the United Kingdom, drives during Formula One auto racing action at the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal, Sunday, June 15, 2025. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)
Mercedes driver George Russell, of the United Kingdom, drives during Formula One auto racing action at the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal, Sunday, June 15, 2025. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)

Thailand's cabinet has approved a $1.2 billion bid to host a Formula One street race in its capital Bangkok in 2028, government officials said on Tuesday. If successful, the Thai capital would win a contract to host a race each year from 2028 to 2032, government spokesperson Jirayu Houngsub told a news conference.

"In the next 2-3 years, Thailand will have world-class competition, which we never thought would actually happen in Thailand," Jirayu said. Tourism Minister Sorawong Thienthong told reporters the bid is worth about 40 billion baht ($1.23 billion).

In March, Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra met with Formula One chief Stefano Domenicali and said Thailand would commission a feasibility study into hosting a Grand Prix on a Bangkok street circuit from 2028.

Hosting the race will help promote tourism, a key driver of Thailand's economy, the government has said.

Formula One already has a crowded schedule of 24 races around the world with four in the Asia-Pacific region, including the Singapore Grand Prix in Southeast Asia.

Thailand has an FIA-accredited track in Buriram in the northeast of the country, which currently hosts a round of the MotoGP motorcycling world championships, but the proposal is for a street race in the kingdom's capital.



Esports World Cup 2025 Kicks Off in Riyadh

The seven-week global event transforms Riyadh into a dynamic hub of gaming and culture, drawing entertainment enthusiasts from around the world. SPA
The seven-week global event transforms Riyadh into a dynamic hub of gaming and culture, drawing entertainment enthusiasts from around the world. SPA
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Esports World Cup 2025 Kicks Off in Riyadh

The seven-week global event transforms Riyadh into a dynamic hub of gaming and culture, drawing entertainment enthusiasts from around the world. SPA
The seven-week global event transforms Riyadh into a dynamic hub of gaming and culture, drawing entertainment enthusiasts from around the world. SPA

Esports World Cup 2025 has officially launched in Riyadh. The seven-week global event transforms the capital into a dynamic hub of gaming, culture, art, and community, drawing entertainment enthusiasts from around the world.

Held at Boulevard Riyadh City, the festival offers a variety of innovative experiences across multiple zones. Highlights include the Aramco SIM Arena, featuring advanced car racing simulations; the stc Arena and Amazon Arena, which host community competitions; a Content Creator Park for influencers; a main stage for family-friendly entertainment; and themed areas such as the Jameel Motorsport Park and the Japanese Garden.

The festival runs alongside Esports World Cup 2025 competitions, attracting global esports fans to Riyadh. Building on the success of the inaugural 2024 event, this year’s tournament features intense preparations and will showcase top-tier competitions in games such as VALORANT, Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves, and Apex Legends. The event continues the Club Championship format, which awards clubs based on multi-title performance to crown the world’s top esports organization.

Esports World Cup 2025 brings together elite players and teams from across the globe to compete for a record-breaking prize pool exceeding $70 million, the largest in esports history.

Over 2,000 professional players representing 200 premier clubs from more than 100 countries will participate in 25 tournaments covering 24 esports titles, all broadcast under extensive global media coverage.