There’s never been a more lucrative time for venues to try and find a way onto the Formula 1 calendar.
The 2024 F1 season was the longest in the sport’s history, with the 24th race finally completed when the chequered flag flew in Abu Dhabi.
Max Verstappen was crowned victorious once again with two races to spare, but the Constructors’ Championship went right down to the wire.
McLaren came out on top thanks to Lando Norris’ expert victory after Verstappen apologised to Oscar Piastri for taking him out.
Next season, aside from the Australian Grand Prix hosting the opening race and a slight deviation on which tracks will host Sprint Races in 2025.
However, the 2026 season is when the calendar will begin to change.
The Madrid Grand Prix will arrive on the calendar that year and it will be the last time the Dutch Grand Prix has a set place in the schedule.
There are a lot of other circuits that want to take Zandvoort’s place and speaking on the James Allen on F1 Podcast, journalists Ben Hunt and Jon Noble discussed where the paddock could be heading next.
Thailand Grand Prix ‘furthest down the road’ to join the Formula 1 calendar
Discussing any upcoming changes to the schedule, Hunt said: “I can’t see a new one coming on next year.
“I think it’s still going to take a little bit of shaking out for Thailand, Rwanda, where the FIA Gala is at the moment, is obviously an option as well.
“There’s been talk about South Africa, I just think there are too many hoops for those circuits to go through at the moment.
“And what Liberty are finding with Formula 1 being popular is that all of a sudden these circuits, which are pleading poverty, are finding millions down the back of the sofa and managing to rustle up deals.”
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Noble added: “I think Thailand’s probably the furthest down the road to get announced, it’ll take place first.
“But I think Rwanda’s an interesting project, so there’s a lot more going on behind the scenes there than has been released to the public.
“So, that one will bubble away and they may announce it, but maybe not until 2030 or somewhere beyond that.
“But I think that’s the expansion they need to look at is new markets and Africa makes complete sense.”
Alex Albon looking forward to a potential home F1 race
Williams driver Alex Albon is a British-born Thai driver and has more than 100 Grand Prix starts to his name.
While Silverstone will feel like a home race for Albon, the opportunity to drive in Thailand would be a completely different prospect.
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Speaking earlier this year, Albon said in a Q+A on his website when asked which circuit he would love to race at: “I’m going to be very biased.
“I would love to race in Thailand and there are talks about a Thai GP happening. So definitely fingers crossed for that in the future.”
MotoGP already race in Thailand at the Chang International Circuit, but that’s not where F1 are likely to end up.
Formula 1 are more likely to end up on a street circuit in the capital city Bangkok.
The Thai prime minister Srettha Thavisin visited Imola earlier in the year which was, via his Facebook page, “in line with the Thai government’s intention to bring F1 racing to Thailand in the near future.”
When that step might be taken is yet to be seen, but Albon will hope he’s still on the grid by the time F1 potentially heads to Thailand.
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