Formula 1: Could F1 Return to India in the Next Few Years?
Why Was the Indian Grand Prix Taken Off the F1 Calendar?
Since the new World Championship launched back in 1950, Formula 1 has raced in 34 countries across the globe, including India, with the very first Indian Grand Prix being hosted at the Buddh International Circuit in Uttar Pradesh in 2011.
Despite signing a five-year deal, F1 raced on the circuit only three times, in 2011, 2012 and 2013, and each of those races were won by Sebastian Vettel, who was Red Bull’s champion driver before the arrival of Max Verstappen.
The fall of the Indian Grand Prix to this day is still widely attributable to the then-Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Akhilesh Yadav, who was a firm believer that F1 was not a sport but entertainment, which meant that it had to be taxed accordingly.
As a result, F1 teams and program coordinators were no longer entitled to the tax exemption that other sports enjoy, which sent customs fees skyrocketing and eventually led to the race being paused for two years and eventually canceled in 2016.
However, while several previous attempts to bring F1 back to Bharat have largely fallen on deaf ears, perspectives have begun to change in recent years, which has sparked hope that a return of the Indian Grand Prix could be close.
Potential Revival of Formula 1 in India
First off, there is no guaranteed confirmation that Formula 1 will return to India in the foreseeable future. However, there are an increasing number of reports from key players and journalists in the know suggesting that the Indian Grand Prix could be reinstated.
One of the major reasons that could come to fruition is the FOM’s overall objective of increasing the number of races on the F1 calendar to increase revenue generated from new regions that have an interest in the sport - recent examples of this include Las Vegas, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.
Given the size of the nations economy and the growing interest in the sport, it stands to reason that it could be a profitable venture to bring F1 back to the country, while there is also growing pressure on the FOM owing to the fact that India is the only country ranked in the top 10 economies in the world to be excluded from Formula 1.
Additionally, 2023 saw two of the biggest motorsport events feature in India - Formula E with the ePrix in Hyderabad, and perhaps more importantly, MotoGP Bharat, which was held at the former Indian Grand Prix Track, Buddh International Circuit.
The successful staging of the MotoGP was a massive step forward in India’s efforts to revive F1 in the country!
While the 2025 season is already underway and 2026 still seems a little too optimistic, continued success in hosting motorsport events could convince Formula 1 and the World Motor Sport Council to reconsider returning to India in the coming years.
Formula 1 heads to the Middle East this weekend, and you can check out our Bahrain Grand Prix prediction right here on SportyTrader before the lights go out on Sunday afternoon.
