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F1 Track Aims to Return After 15-Year Absence

Formula 1 could be heading back to a circuit that has been missing from the championship for more than a decade, with India stepping up its efforts to bring the Indian Grand Prix back to the calendar.

The focus is once again on the Buddh International Circuit in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, which hosted Formula 1 from 2011 to 2013 before the event disappeared amid taxation, regulatory and financial problems.

India is now targeting a potential 2028 return, although the race has not yet been officially confirmed on the F1 calendar. A newly established government task force has been given the responsibility of examining what would be required to make the comeback possible. �

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Major push for F1 comeback

The latest development represents one of the clearest signs yet that India wants Formula 1 back.

India’s Sports Ministry has established a 10-member task force chaired by Yugal Kishore Joshi of NITI Aayog. The group includes representatives from government departments, Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra, motorsport organisations and racing circuits.

Its responsibilities go beyond simply finding a date for a Grand Prix. The task force is expected to examine taxation, regulations, infrastructure, operational requirements and potential public-private partnership models for developing motorsport in India. �

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Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya has said the objective is to create a coordinated roadmap for reviving Formula 1 and establishing a sustainable motorsport ecosystem.

That makes the proposed 2028 return more than just speculation from fans. However, there is still significant work to be completed before an Indian Grand Prix can actually be added to the championship schedule.

Buddh International Circuit back in the spotlight

The Buddh International Circuit remains central to India’s plans.

The 5.125-kilometre circuit hosted the country’s three previous Formula 1 races and quickly developed a reputation for its fast layout and significant elevation changes. The venue’s previous F1 history means it already has experience of hosting the world’s biggest motorsport championship. �

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The Indian Grand Prix debuted in 2011 and returned in 2012 and 2013. Sebastian Vettel won all three editions for Red Bull, making the German driver the only winner of an Indian Grand Prix to date. �

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The 2013 event was the last time Formula 1 machinery competed at Buddh.

A successful return in 2028 would therefore mark approximately 15 years since the circuit last hosted an F1 race.

Why did India lose Formula 1?

The original Indian Grand Prix did not disappear because of a lack of interest in Formula 1.

Taxation and regulatory disputes became major obstacles, while financial difficulties also affected the event. Indian authorities had previously classified aspects of the Grand Prix in ways that created substantial tax complications for organisers and the championship.

Those unresolved issues eventually contributed to the race being removed from the calendar after 2013. India has since been trying to create a framework that could prevent similar problems from returning.

The new task force is specifically examining taxation-related challenges, showing that the government understands one of the major issues that contributed to the original collapse. �

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2028 is a target, not a guarantee

There is an important distinction surrounding the latest news.

India is working towards hosting Formula 1 in 2028, but the race has not been confirmed as part of the official F1 calendar.

Earlier in 2026, there were claims from Indian officials that Formula 1 could return as soon as 2027. Formula 1 subsequently indicated that it would not race in India in 2027, making the latest 2028 target a more realistic planning horizon. �

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The current 2027 F1 calendar has already been announced by the FIA and contains 24 Grands Prix, without India. �

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That means the proposed 2028 comeback still depends on further negotiations and approval.

Another major change to the F1 calendar

Formula 1’s interest in expanding and returning to different markets has been evident in recent years.

Türkiye’s Istanbul Park is scheduled to return to the championship from 2027 under a five-year agreement, while Portugal is also returning to the calendar. �

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India is therefore attempting to position itself for another opportunity as competition for limited F1 calendar slots becomes increasingly intense.

For Indian fans, however, the prospect is significant.

After three races between 2011 and 2013, the sound of F1 cars disappeared from Buddh International Circuit. More than a decade later, the Indian government is once again working towards bringing the championship back.

If the taxation, regulatory, financial and infrastructure hurdles can be resolved, 2028 could become the year Formula 1 finally returns to India.

For now, the comeback remains a government target rather than a confirmed Grand Prix, but the creation of a dedicated task force represents a substantial new step in India’s attempt to put Buddh International Circuit back on the F1 map. �

India Today