The circuit on the Asian side of Istanbul is popular with drivers and fans, but last hosted a race in 2021.
Published April 24, 2026
Turkey’s presidential palace announced on Friday that Turkkiye’s Istanbul Park circuit will return to the F1 calendar for at least five years from 2027, the culmination of a years-long campaign for Turkkiye’s return to the sport.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan formally announced the deal at an event in Istanbul on Friday afternoon, alongside F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali and sport governing body FIA president Mohamed Ben Sulayem.
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F1 cars departed from Galata, Istanbul’s main cruise port, and drove through the streets of Istanbul, ending at the presidential palace in Dolmabahce.
“The return of the Turkish Grand Prix to the F1 calendar is a victory for Turkiye’s passion and belief in the sport,” Erdoğan said.
“Holding F1 races in Istanbul Park for at least five years will support Istanbul’s leading position in the world and demonstrate to the world that our country is a safe haven in the region.”
The circuit on Istanbul’s Asian side is popular with drivers and fans, but last hosted a race in 2021 as a stand-in during the COVID-19 pandemic.
A Grand Prix was also held from 2005 to 2011, and in 2020 Lewis Hamilton won, securing his seventh World Championship, tying Michael Schumacher’s record.
After this incident, Turkiye continued to negotiate a return to the calendar, but momentum slowed after 2022, in part because rival countries such as Qatar were able to provide the tens of millions of dollars needed to secure a deal.
But in 2024, Can Bilim Egitim Krumlari AS, part-owned by Lale Cander, head of the Turkish branch of F1 tire provider Pirelli, won the rights to operate the Istanbul Park circuit for 30 years for about $117.8 million.
Under the deal, the new operator was tasked with bringing back F1 with a long-term deal until 2026, but negotiations held jointly with the Turkish Automotive Sports Federation (TOSFED) stalled.
In February, Domenicali confirmed that Istanbul Park was close to returning to the calendar with existing races and rotation, and that the number of races in the season would still be limited to 24.
