Last Updated on February 3 2026, 3:46 pm

In 2023 the country of India became theist populated on earth, taking over from China. And in economic terms too the financial winds are driving growth in the sub-continent now faster than the tiger that was the Chinese economy.

One huge advantage for the economy is the mass of labour on offer with the workforce age now averaging just 29 years. By way of contrast China’s population and workforce is in decline, with an average age of 38.

India is finally waking up and starting to take its place amongst the geo-political powers of the world and as TJ13 reported yesterday the government is keen to revive the defunct F1 Indian Grand Prix. The race was held for just three years between 2011-13 before financial difficulties forced the hosts to renege on their deal with Bernie Ecclestone.

 

 

 

F1 failed in India due to government tax rules

The Buddh International Circuit (BIC) is a 5.125 km Hermann Tilde-designed F1-grade racetrack in Greater Noida, India, known for its challenging layout with high-speed straights, elevation changes (like the banked Turn 10-12 complex), and modern facilities. The track was loved by the drivers and seen as one of the better examples of the modern Tilkerdromes built in that era.

One of the problems unforeseen by the hosts Jaypee Sports was whilst the circuit was being constructed and the events planned, the Indian national government at the time decided to label Formula One as entertainment rather than a sport.

This had huge implications for the taxation of the race promoters, forcing them quickly into unsustainable losses which is why the Grand Prix finally fell away from the calendar. So what’s changed in India? Why is F1 back in favour with the Indian government and could the Indian Grand Prix return to the calendar as soon as next season?

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Hosting fee 50% hike expected

With the taxation matter soon to be resolved, as promised by India’s sport’s minister, the promoters of the Indian Grand Prix have been told to accelerate their readiness to receive F1 back into the country as soon as is humanly possible.

Hosting fees have significantly increased since India was last part of the F1 circus, back in 2011 a deal was agreed that would see Jaypee pay F1 a hosting fee of $40m. The entire cost of promoting the event stood the promoter at around $50m.

Today that hosting fee is likely to be closer to $60m, with associated costs on top and to this end a source close to Jaypee suggested the Indian government may even provide some level of funding to speed along the Grand Prix’s application process.

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India’s push for global sporting recognition

So why is the Indian government now so interested in Formula One? As an emerging global power house economy, India is also aiming to put itself on the sporting map. The country is hosting the 2030 commonwealth games and has expressed more than a passing interest in bidding for the 2036 Olympic Games.

Of course F1 is not part of there Olympics, it is a sport with massive global following and has more eyeballs on it each year than any other annually held sport’s competition. A return of the Indian Grand Prix and the deluge of associated media coverage would become a gateway for fans around the world to get a glimpse into the history and culture of the world’s biggest country.

Further, hosting a Grand Prix is more than a badge of honour for a country or a city, it is a statement of intent to the world that the hosts are amongst the elite 24 locations on the global scene which can afford and organise what is a frantic weekend of sporting action.

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Modi has one eye on the Olympic Games in 2036

F1 and the thousands of people in the bubble which travels around the world, comes and is gone in just a handful of days, but the organisation for a Grand Prix weekend is a rolling 52 week long programme.

Being accredited to host F1, wood give those deciding on the future hosts for the Olympics the confidence that the intricate preparations required to hold the world’s biggest sporting occasion are on display through the Grand Prix.

It is no secret the current administration headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has repeatedly claimed it wishes to bid for the 2036 Olympic Games. It could be the government is forced into some losses to revive the Indian Grand Prix for 2027, but with the recent announcement that Portimao will replace the departing Zandvoort next year, no slot is available at present on the calendar.

That said, the Portuguese Grand Prix is merely a stop gap measure to prevent red faces in FOM. The contract awarded has been for just two years and covered nicely the outgoing Dutch Grand Prix.

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2028 the earliest slot available

Come 2028 and Spa Francorchamp will sit out for the first of its bi-annual rotational arrangements with F1 and presently there are no other potential F1 hosts close to signing a deal. Rwanda wants in, but has not even completed the designs for its new venue and there’s talk of Thailand and South Korea expressing an interest.

Kyalami perennially claims its close to bringing F1 back to Africa, yet corruption and greed derailed the latest bid with the government withdrawing from its involvement. The drivers would welcome a return to the Buddh International Circuit (BIC), with  its roller coaster feel and opportunities to overtake.

Just Lewis Hamilton, Fernando Alonso and Nico Hulkenberg have raced in F1 at the BIC and should the Indian authorities get their act together quickly, then New Dehli may return to join one of 24 exclusive motorsport/carnival weekends celebrated around the world each year.

 

 

Urgent FIA meetings scheduled 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…. READ MORE