After more than a decade away, Formula 1’s latest push into India feels markedly different. This time, the sport has the backing of a government determined to remove the very obstacles that forced the Indian Grand Prix off the calendar.
When Formula 1 left India after the 2013 season, many assumed it was another example of a race failing to generate sufficient interest. In reality, the opposite was true.
The Buddh International Circuit, situated on the outskirts of New Delhi, produced competitive racing, attracted enthusiastic crowds and showcased one of the fastest growing markets in world motorsport. The circuit itself was rarely the problem.
Instead, the event became entangled in a complex web of taxation, bureaucracy and commercial uncertainty that ultimately made hosting a Grand Prix financially unsustainable.
More than a decade later, India is once again attempting to bring Formula 1 back, but the circumstances have changed considerably.
This is no longer just Formula 1 knocking on India’s door
One of the biggest differences between previous discussions and the latest proposal is who is driving the conversation.
Rather than relying solely on private promoters, India’s Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya has brought together government officials, motorsport representatives and prospective circuit stakeholders to establish a dedicated task force aimed at reviving Formula 1 by 2028. The group will focus specifically on the taxation, regulatory, infrastructure and policy issues that contributed to the championship’s departure. Tax authorities will also be represented, while the government’s policy think tank has been tasked with helping reduce bureaucratic barriers.
Formula 1 has returned to countries before, but rarely with governments openly acknowledging the reasons the championship left in the first place and attempting to resolve them before negotiations are finalised.
The problems were never about the circuit
The Buddh International Circuit remains one of Formula 1’s most modern venues despite not hosting a Grand Prix since 2013.
Designed by renowned circuit architect Hermann Tilke, it featured a mixture of long straights, high speed direction changes and a dramatic elevation profile that drivers consistently praised.
Sebastian Vettel won all three Formula 1 races held at the venue between 2011 and 2013, but memories of those victories are often overshadowed by the legal and financial disputes that followed.
Organisers faced significant taxation issues, while Formula 1 itself became embroiled in disagreements over how the event should be classified for tax purposes. Combined with commercial pressures, those complications ultimately proved too great to overcome.
Formula 1 has changed since India last hosted a race
Perhaps the biggest reason optimism exists today is that Formula 1 itself is no longer the same business it was in 2013.
The championship has transformed into a global entertainment property, fuelled by unprecedented digital growth, expanding television audiences and a younger fanbase. New markets have become increasingly important as Formula 1 balances its traditional European calendar with races across North America, the Middle East and Asia.
India represents one of the world’s largest untapped opportunities.
With a population exceeding 1.4 billion, rapid digital adoption and an expanding middle class, the commercial potential extends well beyond a single weekend of racing. Sponsors, broadcasters and manufacturers increasingly view India as a strategic market rather than simply another venue on the calendar.
That commercial reality helps explain why Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali continues to speak positively about returning.
“There is a big interest from us to return to your country,” Domenicali recently said, while stressing that Formula 1 must first secure “the right promoters, the right collaboration and the right timing.”
His comments are notable because they do not dismiss the idea. Instead, they frame a return as a question of preparation rather than desire.
There is still work to do
None of this guarantees Formula 1 will be back in India in 2028.
The proposed task force has yet to complete its work, commercial agreements still need to be negotiated and Formula 1’s calendar remains under increasing pressure as more countries compete for limited race slots.
Several established venues are already rotating their Grands Prix, while others continue to lobby for permanent places on the schedule. Adding another event will require both political commitment and a commercially viable long-term model.
There is also the question of who ultimately operates the Buddh International Circuit, with the Adani Group emerging as a key stakeholder in discussions surrounding its future.
Why this attempt feels different
For the first time, government agencies appear willing to tackle the structural issues that undermined the original event, while Formula 1 itself is searching for sustainable, long-term partnerships rather than short-term expansion.
That does not mean a return is inevitable.
But unlike previous rumours, this proposal is supported by identifiable policy changes, government involvement and public confirmation from Formula 1 that India remains firmly on its radar.
Whether Formula 1 returns by 2028 will depend on whether those old mistakes have genuinely been solved. If they have, India may finally be ready to reclaim its place on the Formula 1 calendar.
