Will Formula One return to India? Key hurdles and what we know

India’s potential return to the Formula One calendar has drawn fresh attention after Pranav Adani attended the Singapore Grand Prix in a personal capacity as a guest of the FIA, the governing body for international four-wheel racing.

PTI reported that Pranav was present in the Singapore GP paddock as a guest of the FIA. His visit comes as discussions continue over the possibility of bringing Formula 1 back to India.

The Indian Grand Prix was last held at the Buddh International Circuit in Greater Noida between 2011 and 2013. The race was discontinued after facing taxation and financial hurdles.

The Adani Group has acquired the debt-ridden Jaypee Group, with the deal also including the Buddh International Circuit. Karan Adani has publicly expressed a desire to bring Formula 1 back to India, while the Indian government has also shown interest in hosting the event and recently formed a task force to explore its revival.

There is no confirmed timeline for the race’s return. However, the Adani Group and Formula One Management have held exploratory discussions on the subject.

What has Formula 1 said about racing in India?

Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has said on multiple occasions that the sport would like to race in a country with a population of 1.5 billion at the “right” time, when sufficient awareness of the sport has been created.

Pranav Adani’s meeting with FIA officials, despite his visit being in a personal capacity, has attracted attention amid the ongoing discussions.

Drivers and team management have also expressed interest in a possible return to India.

Reigning world champion Lando Norris said ahead of the Singapore GP that he would welcome the opportunity to visit and race in India.

“I know I have a lot of fans from India, and I remember having Jehan (Daruvala) as my teammate, an Indian driver, for many, many years and one of my best friends.

“And I’ve still never been to India, so I would love to go to experience it, first of all, but also to go and race there because I’m sure, and I know, that the fans out there love the sport,” Norris said.

Racing Bulls driver Arvid Lindblad, who has Indian roots, and Alpine managing director Steve Nielsen have also expressed enthusiasm about the possibility of India returning to the calendar.

What are the challenges to bringing F1 back to India?

Despite interest from the Adani Group and the Indian sports ministry, several financial, regulatory and infrastructure challenges need to be addressed before the race can return.

Formula 1 will require absolute clarity on tax rebates before discussions can advance. Local promoters, including the Adani Group, would also need to pay annual hosting fees estimated at between Rs 300 crore and Rs 500 crore.

The Buddh International Circuit would require a major upgrade, likely to cost between Rs 150 crore and Rs 200 crore. Additional expenses would include logistics and safety arrangements.

These costs and regulatory requirements remain key considerations in any plan to revive the Indian Grand Prix.

India faces competition from other countries

Formula 1’s expansion plans place importance on Asia, but India would face competition from other countries seeking to host races.

Steve Nielsen said the growing number of prospective host locations had made the process more competitive.

“If there’s a passion for motorsport in India, then it makes sense. Formula 1 is very competitive now. 20 years ago, it was difficult to find regions or cities that wanted races, and now it’s the opposite. So India would have to compete with other places,” Nielsen said in the Singapore paddock.

For now, India’s return to the Formula 1 calendar remains a possibility rather than a confirmed plan. The Adani Group’s interest, exploratory discussions and support for a revival have brought the issue back into focus, but the financial, taxation and circuit-upgrade requirements still need to be addressed.