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.



UK Government Backs London Bid to Host 2029 Athletics World Championships

FILE -Workers continue setup preparations ahead of the start of the World Athletics Championships at the London Stadium, in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in London, Aug. 1, 2017. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham, File)
FILE -Workers continue setup preparations ahead of the start of the World Athletics Championships at the London Stadium, in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in London, Aug. 1, 2017. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham, File)
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UK Government Backs London Bid to Host 2029 Athletics World Championships

FILE -Workers continue setup preparations ahead of the start of the World Athletics Championships at the London Stadium, in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in London, Aug. 1, 2017. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham, File)
FILE -Workers continue setup preparations ahead of the start of the World Athletics Championships at the London Stadium, in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in London, Aug. 1, 2017. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham, File)

The British government has announced its support of London's bid to host the 2029 athletics world championships.

London hosted the biannual premier track-and-field event in 2017 at the London Stadium, which also held the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2012 Olympic Games. The plan is to stage the 2029 worlds at the same venue.

Saturday's announcement included the government's support of a bid for Britain to host the 2029 World Para Athletics Championships.

“Subject to funding from partners being confirmed, the government has agreed to provide significant funding for both bids, reflecting the UK’s ambition to once again bring the world’s greatest athletes to UK shores,” it said in a statement.

The announcement came with London hosting a Diamond League event on Saturday.

This year’s athletics worlds will take place in Tokyo in September. The 2027 edition will be held in Beijing.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he's “delighted to support the bid.”

“The event would provide a boost for UK businesses and support jobs as well as bring our communities together,” he said in a statement.