Since the explosion of Drive to Survive on Netflix, Filipinos have been hooked, becoming big Formula One fans. Red Bull Racing and Max Verstappen have been dominating the race ever since he won his first title in 2021 after a controversial decision by then-race director Michael Massi to allow a one-lap shootout against Lewis Hamilton. Fans in the country have been following and tuning in despite some race starts scheduled at the crack of dawn.
As there were rumblings of a grand prix happening on the streets of Thailand, F1 CEO Stefano Monza Maestra tells The LuhSallian shocking news, “We will add another grand prix in the Philippines, and it will be held on the streets along EDSA this September 26 to 28 after the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku.
Streets of EDSA
With the help of San Miguel Beer as the main sponsor of the race, F1 will ditch the Dutch pale beer Heineken for this race as the barriers will be plastered with the San Miguel Beer logo. The track will be 7.25 kilometers long with minimal turning, as EDSA has a lot of straights. The circuit will utilize the flyover to oversee the high-rise buildings in Metro Manila and the view of the MRT, allowing the drivers to reach speeds over 200 km/hr.
The race will start before the sunset, allowing fans around the world to witness the beautiful Manila Bay Sunset view as the pit straight is located at the EDSA-Roxas Boulevard intersection. This will allow the drivers to attack turn one with a sharp right from the EDSA Carousel U-turn slot, followed by a long straight and through the Magallanes flyover where the road narrows before allowing them to set sail through a short straight before hard braking turning left in another busway U-turn slot.
F1 boss of McLaren, Mac Brown, speaks loudly of the bold move of F1 to add another street circuit in the Philippines. “The Philippines is a booming country and it is right to race here as I can see a lot of Filipinos traveling around the world just to watch races,” Brown tells the publication on the surprise addition of the circuit.
A new experience
As soon as the 2025 F1 race calendar releases, the long-awaited Grand Prix in Manila is finally unveiled to the fans. Thousands of F1 fans in the Philippines alone crash the website during the announcement of the ticket sales, with Premier Grandstand and Premier Walkout passes being the first ones to sell out. F1 soon releases another date for ticket selling for those who were not able to secure their tickets due to high demand.
“It was difficult to get tickets at first, but luckily I was able to secure one,” Yanna*, a Ferrari fan, shared. “I really wanted to secure a ticket since it’s not always that they’re going to hold a grand prix in the country,” she explains.
F1 also introduces the “Paddock Club hospitality package,” specifically for the inaugural Grand Prix in the country, where it has a view of the Starting Grid and the Pit Lane, enabling the fans to get a closer look at the track action that is going to happen, including pre-race preparations and post-race celebrations. The Paddock Club features a curated Filipino food menu, free-flowing beverages, an appearance from an F1 insider, and TV screens with track feed. This also comes with a pit lane walk, guided track, and one-time paddock tour, giving fans a glimpse of Filipino hospitality.
“We think that it’s important to highlight what the Philippines can offer,” says F1 CEO Monza in an interview with the publication. “This wouldn’t be possible without the fans here in the Philippines who really made it happen for us.”
Fans are excited to meet their favorite drivers, and preparations for the Grand Prix are currently underway. “I can’t wait to see Max! It’s a good thing that I don’t have to go abroad just to attend a grand prix. I just hope he doesn’t cuss at me when I see him,” PJ*, a long-time Red Bull fanatic, shares. “I’m also very excited to see the track come together.”
Formidable ventures
Despite the excitement, there have been notable aspects of the circuit that seemed daunting to the drivers, particularly with the track’s flood-prone characteristics. This could pose significant challenges in wet conditions as rains in Manila are known to cause rapid water buildup in EDSA, drastically affecting tire grip and visibility and forcing teams to change pit-stop strategies, leading to frequent tire changes.
McLaren F1 driver Lando Norris said that he is up for the new adventure ahead: “Street circuits are always tricky, but EDSA is on another level. The idea of racing on a track that could flood mid-race is something new. I’ve driven in heavy rain before, but here, you’re not just dealing with water; you’re dealing with unpredictable road surfaces and who knows what else. I might even run into sealife while at it during the race,” Norris stated when asked about racing in the Philippines.
With this in mind, FIA officials have tasked the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) with the safety and race steward duties. The MMDA will use San Miguel-sponsored jeepneys as opposed to the traditional safety cars and will be closely monitoring the race track along the various overpasses. MMDA shared that “Just like the jeepney on the streets, jeepney marshalls will also annoy the drivers into following the rules to ensure that they get what they want.”
The EDSA Grand Prix remains an ambitious and unconventional addition to the F1 calendar. FIA officials have hinted at exploring future editions in the Philippines, with alternative venues such as CAVITEX and the Clark International Speedway. The enthusiasm from Filipino motorsport fans has been undeniable, with ticket demand already exceeding projections. As preparations for the inaugural EDSA Grand Prix continue, one thing is certain: if F1 can conquer Manila, then it can conquer anywhere in the world.
This article was published in The LaSallian‘s Spoof 2025 issue. To read more, visit bit.ly/TLSSpoof2025.