Indian F1 fans, keep your eyes on the rear-view mirror, because something long forgotten may finally be closing in — and we sure will be hoping for once that it’s closer than it appears to be.
After more
than a decade in the wilderness, the Indian Grand Prix could be revving back to life.
According to a report by India Today, the Indian government has stepped up efforts to bring Formula 1 back to the Buddh International Circuit in Greater Noida, the venue that last hosted the sport in 2013.
The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports is reportedly working to clear the very hurdles that once pushed F1 out of the country.
Speaking to the media on Monday, February 2, Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said the government is looking to ease tax burdens and cut through bureaucratic red tape — two major speed bumps that stalled the race a decade ago.
India has hosted just three F1 Grands Prix — in 2011, 2012 and 2013 — all of them dominated by a peak-era Sebastian Vettel in his Red Bull days.
The inaugural race in 2011 felt like a breakthrough moment. India, already an emerging motorsport market, embraced F1 with enthusiasm and scale.
But the momentum didn’t last.
What followed was a familiar story: big spectacle, limited accessibility. The Indian Grand Prix became a glitzy VIP affair rather than a grassroots sporting event. Local engagement lagged, youth development never took off, and the event struggled to embed itself into India’s sporting culture.
The biggest blow came from Uttar Pradesh itself. The state classified Formula 1 as “entertainment” rather than “sport”, stripping the race of crucial tax exemptions and subsidies. Add customs disputes, regulatory confusion, and layers of bureaucracy, and the writing was soon on the wall.
Now, though, the engine is turning again.
India Today reports that discussions are underway between the Indian government, Formula 1 Management, and other stakeholders over a possible return. No date has been confirmed, but the intent appears real.
That said, the road back is anything but clear. Formula 1’s calendar is already bursting at the seams, with 24 races held in the 2025 season. India will be battling heavyweights like Qatar, Las Vegas and China for a slot.
Still, after years stuck in neutral, Indian F1 fans finally have reason to believe the lights might go out — and the racing might begin — once again.
