Formula One has a bit of a problem, despite its much lauded global rise in fortunes in recent years, a umber of circuits are pulling out of the sport. Gone this year is the Emilia-Romagne Grand Prix, although if ready on time it will be replaced by the new home of the Spanish Grand Prix in Madrid.
Barcelona remains this season, but its future is in doubt given repeated demands from the FIA not being met over improving the facilities at the Circuit de Catalunya. The contract with Barcelona expires this season and with Madrid set to host races until 2035, the future of the Barcelona event is uncertain.
Unlike Spa-Francorhamps in Belgium which has opted to to become a bi-annual rotating event with the first year of absence being in 2028, Barcelona has as yet no such agreement and the issues around improving facilities remain a bone of contention.
Tracks falling away from F1 calendar
Zandvoort will say farewell to F1 after this year’s event, although a renter to Portimao in Portugal has been pencilled in as a replacement. The loss of Barcelona would see the calendar reduce in 2027 to just 23 races, something Stefano Domenicali will find unacceptable.
Having fourth long and hard for a maximum race schedule of 24 races, FOM and Domenicali will fight tooth and nail for the number of rounds each year to remain the same as it is. There are newbies lurking out there who have expressed an interest in hosting F1, but the likes of Rwanda who intend to create a purpose built venue are years away from being complete.
Thailand are lightly penciled in for 2028 at the earliest, yet government funding has not been forthcoming, something which all but two of the current F1 hosts require to make an event viable. The mayor of Incheon in South Korea has submitted a letter of intent to FOM, although a return to the purpose built circuit once used is not on the cards – so a new venue would be required.
Having an F1 Grand Prix in Africa has become an obsession for some in the paddock, but a return to Kyalami, South Africa has been in the pipeline now for years. Corruption and greed ended the last round of talks and there’s no sign on the horizon that anything has changed.
READ MORE – A rare update on Michael Shcumacher’s condition
New circuits in the pipeline still years away
F1 is indeed in need of a quick solution to the Barcelona problem. They could of course offer the circuit a year by year arrangement until an alternative is found. Yet the fact Madrid has been given a ten year contract, suggests the patience of those in F1 has run out with the Catalan promoters.
Today, one option became evidently possible for Formula One, with a return to the Buddh International Circuit (BID) making a huge stride towards its F1 return. The circuit just outside the New Dehli capital was one of the Tilkerdrome successes when first opened in 2011, with the drivers praising its technical nature.
The track embodies the spirit of some of the classic F1 tracks, like Suzuka and Spa with a roller coaster feel to the circuit due to a number of significant elevation changes. Overtaking opportunities were always good at the BID with them of corners and straights allowing the cars to follow each other closely.
As the hosts were readying themselves to host their third edition of Grand Prix racing in 2013, the Indian Grand Prix, Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), governing body of motorsport in India, announced that the 2014 race would be cancelled, although F1 was scheduled to return the following season.
MORE NEWS – Alpine sponsorship issues. Colapinto at risk?
India’s sport’s minister discusses the return of the Indian Grand Prix
Indeed the 2015 Indian Grand Prix was listed on the F1 official calendar but was cancelled some months before the event was due to take place. Then the 2016 event was cancelled too and F1 has not returned to India since.
At the heart of the problem for Jaypee Group who underwrote the event was a bone of contention with the Indian authorities ask their taxation policies. F1 was designated entertainment and not a sport, leading to a far higher tax banding for Jaypee who could not afford to continue funding the Grand Prix.
With the Indian Grand Prix receiving no government or regional funding as do most of the F1 venues, the books didn’t balance and the race was lost to India. Fans in the sub-continent have been praying for a F1 return and today the latest report is that the funding may now be available for there BID to once again host F1. This will be music to Domenical’s ears given the track is already classed as FIA Grade 1, and the venue may just need a little tarting up to bring it up to scratch again.
News agency PTI reports today that the country’s sports minister has been in discussion with the promoters to revive the Indian Grand Prix. The thorny issue of the hefty taxes is allegedly on the way to being resolved and a return to the Buddha International Circuit cold return as early as in 2027.
MORE F1 NEWS – Newey’s “extreme” Aston Martin design. Genius or flop?
A ready built circuit and a drivers favourite
“The minister went to see the F1 track in Greater Noida recently and held discussions with promoters about when latest the race can be restarted…. Tax issue is there in hosting F1 but this will be resolved soon. The minister has told the promoters to restart F1 as soon as possible,” a source told PTI.
India recently surpassed China as the world’s most populous country and its economy is booming with forecasts it will outperform China’s growth for a number of years. India’s domestic diamond market officially became the second-largest in the world (after the US) in 2024, overtaking none other than China itself.
All three editions of the F1 Indian Grand Prix were won by Sebastian Vettel with most of the current crop of drivers never having visited the Buddh international Circuit.
Hosting a Formula One event is a badge of honour for almost any government, it places their country at the heart of the biggest annually sporting competition in the world. Only The FIFA World Cup and the summer Olympics – both of which are held just every four years – reach more eyeballs than does F1.
NEXT ARTICLE – Urgent FIA meetings schedule this week over Mercedes engine loophole
As much as Mercedes may wish us to believe there’s “nothing to see here – lets move along,” the row over the so called engine loophole exploited by Mercedes has seen two emergency meetings called this week. It appears the results of these gatherings will either defuse the row or explode it into a massive talking point going into Melbourne.
Mercedes are said to have developed their internal engine with clever metallurgic components which when hot allow the maximum compression to rise above the FIA’s mandated 16.1 ratio. The FIA test the engines’ compression rates when the car is stationary and the power unit is cold.
Engineers, F1 regulators and the representatives of the ,manufacturers will seek to thrash out the issue before it can become an ugly distraction at the 2026 season opener in Australia in five weeks time. Whilst the issue is one of a technical nature, the decision will most definitely be a political one… CONTINUE READING THIS STORY
A.J. Hunt is Senior Editor at TJ13, where Andrew oversees editorial standards and contributes to the site’s Formula 1 coverage. A career journalist with experience in both print and digital sports media, Andrew trained in investigative journalism and has written for a range of European sports outlets.
At TJ13, Andrew plays a central role in shaping the site’s output, working across breaking news, analysis, and long-form features. Andrew’s responsibilities include fact-checking, refining editorial structure, and ensuring consistency in reporting across a fast-moving news cycle.
Andrew’s work focuses particularly on the intersection of Formula 1 politics, regulation, and team strategy. Andrew closely follows developments involving the FIA, team leadership, and driver market dynamics, helping to provide context behind the sport’s biggest stories.
With experience covering multiple seasons of Formula 1’s modern hybrid era, Andrew has developed a detailed understanding of how regulatory changes and competitive shifts influence the grid. Andrew’s editorial approach prioritises clarity and context, aiming to help readers navigate complex developments within the sport.
In addition to editorial duties, Andrew is particularly interested in how media narratives shape fan perception of Formula 1, and how reporting can balance speed with accuracy in an increasingly digital news environment.
Neither Rwanda nor South Africa seem ready for the time being.
Both Thailand & Qiddiya have been estimated for 2028, but readiness is also questionable.
However, Montmelo could indeed start hosting bi-annually.
On the other hand, I doubt India’s economical situation would still be enough for a return, nor have I heard or read any signs towards it being even a semi-viable option, so pure speculation rather than anything concrete.
Besides, 23 would, of course, be equally okay like before, & to date, 23 rounds have been confirmed for the 2027 season, & the last confirmation could just as well be about Montmelo, Imola, or even Istanbul Park.
Istanbul Park definitely has a better chance than BID in comparison.