Monaco Grand Prix: Formula 1 keen to hold a second race in Southeast Asia, says Greg Maffei of event owner Liberty Media
- Thailand, South Korea and Indonesia all keen on hosting an Asian round, Maffei says at Monaco Grand Prix event
- He says Formula One owners would consider factors such as ‘who could run a great race’ and ‘who can frankly afford a race’
Formula One is seeing a surge of interest in China and could easily add a second race in Southeast Asia, according to the boss of the sport’s owners Liberty Media.
Chief executive Greg Maffei said at the 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 grand prix in Mokpo but local organisers were now interested in bringing racing to the capital, Seoul.
Thailand’s Prime Minister, Srettha Thavisin, attended last weekend’s race at Italy’s Imola circuit, with talk of a race in Bangkok, while Liberty Media recently acquired MotoGP, which has races in Thailand and Indonesia.
Formula One returned to China this year after a four-year absence due to the Covid-19 pandemic, 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 told an event attended by Las Vegas Grand Prix promoters.
