Formula 1’s India return seems closer than ever
The Government of India has formed a 10-member NITI Aayog Task Force to assess the revival of F1 in India, with 2028 as the target year
Lights go out at the 2013 F1 Indian Grand Prix
Lights go out at the 2013 F1 Indian Grand Prix
It was almost 13 years ago when Sebastian Vettel’s RB9 screamed right in front of the grandstands at the Buddh International Circuit, leaving doughnuts that would become a part of the track for years to come, and the longest-lasting memory of the F1 Indian Grand Prix. Following that year, despite multiple speculations, Formula 1 never returned to India. But now that the sport is expanding more rapidly than ever, it might finally be happening, as the Government of India has perhaps begun realising the potential motorsports holds, and has formed a 10-member NITI Aayog Task Force, setting a target of the year 2028 to see India back on the F1 calendar.
Challenges that lie ahead of F1’s India return
After three successful years of racing, taxation issues with the Government of UP became the primary reason for F1’s exit from India. Interestingly, the contract for the Indian GP at the BIC was until 2014. Moreover, it was speculated that Formula 1 would eventually return to the circuit in 2015, but that never happened. The new task force that has been formed will primarily assess the same issues and the other challenges that Formula One Management could face when hosting a race in the country.
Sebastian Vettel won all three editions of the F1 Indian GP between 2011 and 2013
Understandably, there is also a massive potential for tourism, economic, and international investment benefits from the project, if it goes into action. But apart from that, ensuring that there is ample infrastructure to actually host an F1 race, considering the strict homologation, would eventually become a target for the Task Force.
The Task Force is led by Yugal Kishore Joshi, PD (YAS), and includes representatives from both the Madras International Circuit and the Buddh International Circuit, as well as the President / Secretary General of the Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India (FMSCI). There are a number of challenges that the organisers could face attempting to host the Indian Grand Prix once again. MotoGP was hosted at the Buddh International Circuit back in 2023, but has not returned since because of the financial issues that organisers faced. However, with the task force that the Indian Government has set up, F1’s India return seems closer than ever.
Sebastian Vettel, Fernando Alonso (left), and Mark Webber (right) formed a stunning podium at the 2012 F1 Indian GP
The Task Force to revive the Indian GP formed weeks after Tamil Nadu CM’s Motor Sports City announcement
This announcement from the Indian Government comes just weeks after Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, C. Joseph Vijay, announced plans to build a dedicated motorsports venue in the state, called the Motor Sports City. This planned venue would be capable of hosting Formula 1 races, including the Feeder series.
Tamil Nadu is already home to circuits like the Kari Motor Speedway and the Madras International Circuit, and this project, coinciding with the Government of India’s efforts to bring back F1 to India, could be beneficial. However, Buddh International Circuit seems to be the likely target for an F1 return, if it were to happen.
