Iran war intensifies competition for new Asian race venue

{"text":[[{"start":5.6,"text":"Formula 1 is weighing competing bids from several Asian countries for an additional race in the region. The sport’s unexpected return to Malaysia last weekend because of the Iran war underlined the strength of demand in the region."}],[{"start":18.32,"text":"But any new venue would have to replace one of the existing host circuits, according to Stefano Domenicali, F1’s chief executive, who says there are no plans to expand beyond the current 24-race season."}],[{"start":30.96,"text":"Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam and South Korea are among the countries interested in securing a place in the calendar. The return in 2027 of the Turkish Grand Prix — on the Asian side of Istanbul — means Asia will host nine races next season, overtaking Europe with eight for the first time."}],[{"start":47.68,"text":"“The interest in that region is very strong,” says Domenicali, speaking to the Financial Times ahead of this weekend’s Singapore Grand Prix. The 61-year-old Italian adds that his team is assessing which proposal would offer the strongest long-term proposition."}],[{"start":61.76,"text":"Competition to become a host has intensified after Malaysia’s surprise return to the F1 calendar this season. Its Sepang circuit, which last held a race in 2017, was drafted in to host last weekend’s delayed Bahrain Grand Prix. The war in the Middle East led to the cancellation of the original race in April, along with the Saudi Arabian GP a week later."}],[{"start":null,"text":""}],[{"start":84.4,"text":"Domenicali says tickets for the hastily arranged Malaysian race sold out in just three weeks, demonstrating the popularity of the sport in the region. “It was amazing,” he says. “To think that the last time we were in Malaysia was 2017 and we were able to sell out the tickets in such a short time means that the interest in that region is very, very strong.”"}],[{"start":103.12,"text":"The rapid take-up could help put Malaysia in contention for a permanent return to the championship. “I’m pretty convinced that the Malaysians by themselves will try to be around our table to discuss eventual future possibilities,” Domenicali says, while stressing that he has received no guarantee that such talks will take place."}],[{"start":120.48,"text":"Moreover, Malaysia would face fierce competition. Thailand has stepped up efforts to become a host nation in recent years, while Vietnam and South Korea have also maintained a strong interest. Vietnam was set to host a race in 2020 but it was cancelled due to Covid and the £540mn circuit was subsequently abandoned. F1 has previously considered the possibility of adding a second race in China but has since rejected it."}],[{"start":146.32,"text":"Domenicali says the assessment of any future host would look at “what is the most structured and long-term” proposition, with infrastructure, fan interest, promoters’ business plans and opportunities for commercial partners among the criteria."}],[{"start":null,"text":""}],[{"start":160.24,"text":"The disruption caused by the Iran war has also added another consideration for the planners of future championships: the need for flexibility to adapt the calendar when geopolitical events make racing impossible."}],[{"start":171.36,"text":"While the race in Bahrain was moved to Malaysia, the Saudi Arabian GP was cancelled without a replacement. The two other races in the Middle East — in Qatar and Abu Dhabi — are scheduled to conclude the season and Domenicali insists as of early October that both will go ahead, despite uncertainty about Tehran and Washington reaching a final settlement to end the war."}],[{"start":191.92,"text":"“Our decision is done,” he says. “With the status of the situation, the calendar is confirmed” for Qatar and Abu Dhabi. Both races were already sold out, he adds. Despite that assertion, F1 has contingency arrangements in place to move the season finale in Abu Dhabi, scheduled for early December, should it be cancelled closer to the race. There is no alternative for Qatar."}],[{"start":214.4,"text":"“Imola is the place that eventually, in case of a force majeure before a certain date, would be ready to host it,” Domenicali explains, but insists that “the focus very clearly is Qatar and Abu Dhabi”."}],[{"start":225.36,"text":"The logistical requirements to prepare each circuit mean any decision to shift venues would have to happen about a month before the race was scheduled, he adds."}],[{"start":234,"text":"The war has highlighted the risks associated with the push by F1 owner Liberty Media to further globalise the sport since it bought the car-racing series in 2017. Domenicali believes the logistical complexities associated with F1 leave it more exposed to geopolitics than any other sport."}],[{"start":251.489,"text":"“I would say that not so many sports have . . . our complexity,” he explains. “One thing is us moving thousands and thousands of people, tonnes and tonnes of materials from day to night, from one place to another.”"}],[{"start":264.16,"text":"He says the preparations for backup races this season had given his team “a solid foundation” should the need arise to find a replacement venue for a race in the future. “I would say the flexibility that we have . . . is even stronger now because [of dealing with] the requests [from potential replacement host] countries.”"}],[{"start":282.32,"text":"But that should not be taken as F1 putting a formal network of reserve circuits in place, he says. The investment required in ticket sales, hotels, logistics and organisation means potential promoters cannot be expected to remain on standby until the last moment."}],[{"start":299.04,"text":"But he acknowledges that increased interaction with potential hosts in Asia would allow F1 “to have different options in the future in case . . . we need to revisit our strategy in the world”."}],[{"start":null,"text":""}],[{"start":308.8,"text":"F1’s decision not to add to its 24-race limit per season puts more pressure on existing hosts around the world. Domenicali says the expansion of the race calendar in recent years and the offerings from the newer circuits have already forced some of the championship’s traditional European races to up their game."}],[{"start":328.16,"text":"“Even the most historical promoters . . . are [being] pushed to improve the quality of what they are offering, because that’s, for me, the most important point. I mean historical [links only have] value if you want to invest for the future, otherwise it’s not enough,” he adds. “We have seen that happening with Monaco, in Monza and Silverstone. They were, in a way, pushed by the system to improve the quality of what we need to offer.”"}],[{"start":351.6,"text":"But a new Asian host circuit on the F1 racing calendar would not necessarily come at the expense of a European venue. Singapore’s contract expires at the end of next season, Domenicali points out, while the contracts for the Japan and China GPs expire at the end of the 2029 and 2030 seasons respectively. India, which last hosted F1 in 2013, is not a short-term prospect, he adds."}],[{"start":374.8,"text":"The region is important to the growth of the sport, he says, while refusing to be drawn on which potential bidder has the best prospect. “Far East Asia will be one of the areas where we will develop the future of F1 . . . if we are able to penetrate this market in the right way.”"}],[{"start":394.51,"text":""}]],"url":"https://audio.ftcn.net.cn/album/a_1791647137_9556.mp3"}