3 min readNew DelhiApr 13, 2026 04:54 PM IST
First published on: Apr 13, 2026 at 04:06 PM IST
From refurbishing the race track to promising tax relaxations, India has stepped up efforts for a spot on the 2027 Formula 1 race calendar.
Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Monday confirmed that the government is working towards removing the hurdles that resulted in the sport leaving the nation in 2013. “We will have an F1 race in India very soon. The target is to get a race at the Buddh International Circuit in the next three to six months,” Mandaviya told the reporters at a press briefing. “It will take another six months for the paperwork.”
The Indian Grand Prix was held at the Buddh International Circuit in Greater Noida thrice between 2011 and 2013, but F1 never returned to the country, primarily due to taxation disputes between the race organisers and the government.
Mandaviya said the government is ‘finding a solution to make it more viable for the organisers’. “The government will help in getting the tax relaxations that had become a bone of contention so that it is a viable venture for the organisers. Either the tax will be removed or there will be a way to reimburse the tax to the organisers,” he said.
Mandaviya added that the ongoing conflict in West Asia has resulted in many companies expressing interest to host motorsports events in India. The Saudi and Bahrain GPs, which were to be held in April, were cancelled due to the war. This meant that the 24-race season will now have 22 races.
“Given the global situation due to the ongoing Iran war, India is being seen as a safe and viable venue for sporting events, including F1. Three different companies have reached out to us and we are looking at possible options,” Mandaviya said. “The Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India (FMSCI) is in talks with Formula One right now, we will be facilitators.”
The Adani Group is set to acquire the Jaypee Group’s debt-laden assets, which includes the 5.14 km Buddh International Circuit. The port-to-power conglomerate has also shown interest in bringing back F1 to India.
However, India has found it tough to sustain big-ticket motorsports events. The circuit was last used for a major international event in September 2023, when Bharat MotoGP was held as one of the new races on the MotoGP calendar. However, the event faced multiple challenges and was later scrapped due to operational issues.
Among the problems were visa delays, a 45-minute delay to the practice session due to a shortage of marshals, and extreme heat and humidity. As a result, the 24-lap race was shortened to 21 laps. Marco Bezzecchi won the reduced race, finishing ahead of Jorge Martin and Fabio Quartararo.
Like MotoGP, Formula E was hosted in 2023 in Hyderabad but it was dropped from the calendar due to a change in the state government.
India is targetting F1's return in 2027 according to the Sports Ministry. (FIle) 
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