Turkey ready to rejoin F1 calendar should others cancel

Formula 1 confirmed its 2026 calendar last month, but Turkish Grand Prix bosses are ready to step in and host a race as early as next year if any event is forced to cancel. 

Istanbul Park was recently transferred to TOSFED, the Turkish Automobile Sports Federation, with federation president Eren Uclertopragi adamant that he would like to see F1 back in Turkey on a permanent basis – rather than just a short-term deal.  

Turkey last hosted F1 races during the COVID-19 impacted 2020 and 2021 seasons as a stop-gap solution to fill out the calendar, and officials are now working on a permanent return.  

In an interview with Autosport, Uclertopragi said: “Following our appointment by the government as the federation a few months ago, we have been in intensive discussions with F1 and FIA management.  

“There is a strong commitment from the government to bring Turkey back into the Formula 1 calendar with a permanent and long-term agreement. 

“As is known, the 2026 calendar has already been announced. Nevertheless, in the event that a race cannot be held for various reasons, we could host the Turkish Grand Prix. 

“However, unlike during the pandemic, we do not want to host a one-off replacement race; instead, we aim to secure a place on the calendar through a long-term contract.”  

Uclertopragi added that the proposal for a Turkish Grand Prix has the full backing from the country’s government. 

“I am happy to say that, thankfully, our president, minister of culture and tourism, and minister of youth and sports are all seriously supporting the project to bring Formula 1 back to Turkey,” he said.  

“Therefore, we are currently receiving significant support and encouragement from our government. All payments and procedures related to the race will be completed under state guarantee. 

“At this point, the fact that we, as the federation, have taken over the management of Istanbul Park gives us a great advantage. In addition to assuming the responsibilities of both the promoter and the national sporting authority recognised by the FIA, the fact that the race is supported by the full force of our government will enable us to organise a very smooth event. 

“Finding such a structure among other races on the calendar is very rare. In fact, a few international racing series already contacted us to race in Turkey as early as next year.” 

Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull RB7 Renault, Nico Rosberg, Mercedes MGP W02, Mark Webber, Red Bull RB7 Renault, at the start

Photo by: Rainer W. Schlegelmilch / Motorsport Images

The country’s ambitions for F1 and willingness to step in come after organisers of the Emilia Romagna GP in Imola also voiced their intention to fight for a return to the F1 calendar. But Uclertopragi says the Istanbul circuit’s location makes it an attractive proposition for the series.  

“We do not have the perspective of competing with any other country,” he said. “Turkey still has a very popular and unique track, a population of 85 million, great interest in the sport among young people, a market where more than 1.2 million cars are sold annually, factories or major distributors of most F1 car brands located here, and a geopolitical position. 

“The huge spectator potential in countries within a two-to-three-hour flight from Istanbul makes it a country that could add significant value to the F1 calendar if included.  

“Preferably, September is a month when the weather is good in Istanbul and students return to school. Therefore, I think it would be very convenient to organise the race in September. 

“The fact that the Azerbaijan GP will also take place in our sister country in September could make things easier for Formula 1 teams in terms of logistics. A race that can be held before or after going to or returning from Baku would be a relatively lower-cost and easier operation for F1.” 

As it stands a return to Turkey could be possible as soon as 2027, when Zandvoort’s Dutch Grand Prix will have been dropped from the calendar. Barcelona has yet to agree to a new deal after 2026, potentially creating two spots to fill.  

At present, the strongest contender for a new race remains Thailand, whose government has committed $1.2 billion to a street circuit race in Bangkok from 2028.