Thailand’s hopes of joining the Formula 1 calendar have suffered a further blow as a result of the ongoing political instability in the country.
The country’s constitutional court has dismissed prime minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, who has played a key role in promoting the race.
Shinawatra met F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali in March this year to discuss plans for a street race in the capital Bangkok. Domenicali described the proposal as “impressive” at the time.
She also met Alexander Albon, who has Thai and British parentage and races under a Thai licence, in May. Her cabinet allocated a budget of $1.2 billion in order to bring the race to the country.
However Shinawatra, who was suspended from her role in July, has now been stripped of her powers after the court ruled she violated the country’s constitution. A group of senators called for her removal in June over her handling of a diplomatic call with Cambodian senate president Hun Sen. Relations between the two countries subsequently deteriorated, leading to an armed conflict in which several people were killed.
The development casts fresh doubt on the leadership of a country in which the military holds a significant amount of power. Shinawatra is the fourth member of her family to lead the country but be removed from the position before the end of her term.
Her father, billionaire Thaksin Shinawatra, lost power in a military coup in 2006. Court rulings ended the premierships of his brother-in-law two years later and another daughter, Yingluck, in 2014.
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Last year another prime minister, Srettha Thavisin, was forced out by a court ruling. Thavisin had also been involved in promoting a potential F1 race in Thailand.
The country previously attempted to join the calendar 10 years ago, when former F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone announced a race would take place in Bangkok.
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