Central Government Exploring To Bring Back Formula 1 To India

Formula 1, the pinnacle of motorsport, could make a comeback to India more than a decade after the last race was held in the country, if recent reports are anything to go by. The central government is taking keen interest in the revival of F1 in India, and Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya visited the Buddh International Circuit (BIC) last week, and met officials from the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA), which owns and operates the FIA Grade 1 circuit.

According to a report by the TOI, the sports minister went to the track recently, and held discussions with the promoters about when the latest race could be held. The minister also suggested handing over the race track to a sports management firm for about 2-3 years, which will work on reviving the sport in India. The move is said to be part of the central government’s efforts to bring more global sports championships to the country. India will be the host country for the 2030 Commonwealth Games in Ahmedabad, and is aiming to host the 2036 Olympics as well.

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Formula 1 arrived in India amidst much fanfare in 2011 and was part of the racing calendar until 2013. However, the organisers decided to discontinue the Indian circuit over tax disputes with the local government. At the time, the Uttar Pradesh state government classified F1 as “entertainment”, which translated to higher taxes and import duties on F1 cars and equipment. The financial strain meant F1 found India as unviable and have not returned to the country since. The discontinuation was a big blow not just for the Indian motorsport fans but also for Jaypee Group, the former owners of the track. The company declared itself bankrupt in June 2024, leading to YEIDA taking over the ownership of the circuit. That being said, reports suggest that Adani Group has shown interest in taking over the BIC.

While the return of Formula 1 to India is certainly good news, we’ve had a rather poor record when it comes to host global motorsport. Formula E held one race in India in 2023 in Hyderabad but has not returned since, despite India's Mahindra owning a team in the electric racing championship. MotoGP also came to India for the first time in September 2023. However, the premier-class two-wheeler championship has shown no plans of returning here. It’s noteworthy to mention that MotoGP organisers Dorna signed a direct agreement with the Uttar Pradesh government in 2024 to host races at the BIC between 2025 and 2027. However, the Bharat Grand Prix wasn’t on the calendar in 2025, nor is it in 2026.

F1 already has a packed calendar with 24 races in a year, which means limited slots for newer countries. India, then, will have to battle it out with other countries vying for a spot. It’ll be interesting to see how the government can communicate a long-term vision and continued support to F1 promoters, which was missing in the previous attempts.