Is Formula 1 now eying a move to the Philippines?

Formula 1's appears to have a veritable craving for expanding into Asia, with the Philippines seen as Liberty Media's next potential target on the eastern continent.

According to the Independent, the Formula One Group filed trademark applications earlier this month for a 'Philippine Grand Prix' and a 'Manila Grand Prix'.

The report mentions that the applications filed with the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines covered seven categories, including sports events, broadcasting, clothing and printed products.

Manila, the capital of the Philippines also knows as the Pearl of the Orient, is a densely populated bay-side city with a booming economy that could perhaps appeal to Formula 1 and its commercial partners.

• Finland considers hosting an F1 Grand Prix

However, with Vietnam's addition to the F1 calendar in 2020, and the ongoing presence on the schedule of China, Japan and Singapore, Asia and Southeast Asia's increasing weight could come to the detriment of good old Europe.

Grand Prix racing's original bastion, where its roots were grown in organized automobile racing that began well over a century ago, hopefully won't go down without a fight.

Indeed, last week, news emerged of Finland's interest in hosting a round of the F1 world championship sometime in the future.

It remains to be seen however if Europe can really counter Formula 1's seemingly insatiable appetite for the Asian continent, where it could up end racing at venues paying "a big race fee, but it does nothing to build the long-term brand and health of the business".

Sounds familiar? That was Liberty CEO Greg Maffei speaking over a year ago about Formula 1's presence in Azerbaijan. Enough said.

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