Scott Gulbransen
Istanbul Park is coming back to F1, and it’s about time.
Formula 1 will return to Turkey as the Turkish Grand Prix makes its comeback at the Istanbul Park circuit. The event will take place in 2027 and will form part of the calendar until 2031 for a five-year stint. Formula 1 made the announcement on Friday.
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The History of F1 in Turkey
The Turkish Grand Prix last appeared on the calendar in 2020 and 2021. It was a race that surprised everyone and immediately gained huge popularity, and it seems it will remain a permanent fixture on the Formula 1 calendar. Lewis Hamilton drove to victory in 2020 at the track in wet and damp conditions.
The 2005 to 2011 Turkish Grand Prix was held on one of the most fabulous designs on the F1 calendar, the Istanbul Park circuit. Since 2012, the event has not been held due to a dispute between F1 and the Turkish organizers over the hosting fee. Both sides lost, and it’s hard to see why they couldn’t have come to a compromise. Since they failed to do so, F1 has had to race on some very subpar circuits in recent years.
Why Turkish Grand Prix at Istanbul Park Matters
This 3.3-mile road course has many elevation changes and is a very challenging track for drivers. Turn 8 is still the most famous corner on the track and the one that drivers miss the most. That long, slow-developing left-hand turn asks for more and more commitment until it’s too late to bail.
The Turkish race joins the Portugal race at Portimão, filling a vacant spot left by Zandvoort. Additionally, Barcelona and Spa will now alternate every other year, for better or worse.
Turkey’s return to the calendar means that every race on the 2027 F1 schedule is now contracted and held on licensed tracks, with the 2023 calendar now full. While that might seem like a closed book, there is room on the 2028 schedule for a return to Africa – potentially in a different location.
Istanbul has finally been added to the list. It took a long time, but it did deserve to be there.
