Turkey set to return to F1 calendar in 2027

The Turkish Grand Prix is set to return to the Formula 1 calendar in 2027 for the first time in six years.

The event is scheduled to take place at the Istanbul Park circuit until at least 2031, and it is the track where Lewis Hamilton clinched his record-equalling seventh world drivers’ title in 2020.

Turkey held a grand prix from 2005 to 2011 before dropping off the schedule, although it returned for two years in 2020-21 when F1 needed venues to fill the calendar during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The addition of Turkey does not mean that the F1 calendar will expand beyond 24 races. The event will slot in as contracts for other races expire, or move to a rotational basis.

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The Belgian Grand Prix, for example, is starting a new contract where it hosts four races in six years between 2026-31.

Turkey’s president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, said: “Formula 1 ranks among the world’s foremost sporting events, distinguished by its spectacle, its young fan base, and its leadership in automotive technologies.

“In our country, too, Formula 1 enjoys a broad following across all age groups, especially among our youth, with a truly passionate fanbase.

“The races reach nearly 19 million people in our country, while around 7.5 million follow them closely on social media.

“I regard Turkey’s return to the Formula 1 calendar as a clear reflection of the strong confidence placed in our country – in our robust organisational capacity, in our modern sports and healthcare infrastructure, and, of course, in the renowned hospitality of the Turkish nation.”

(BBC)