F1 fans have reacted to the recent news that the organisers of the Turkish Grand Prix are targeting a return to the F1 calendar through a long-term contract.<\/p>\n
Since Istanbul Park left the calendar in 2011 after hosting seven Grand Prix, the circuit returned in the 2020 and 2021 seasons as a temporary stop on the calendar during the COVID-19 pandemic.<\/p>\n
Valtteri Bottas\u2019s feat in 2021 was the last we saw of the circuit, when it replaced the Singapore Grand Prix due to the safety measures put in place within the country at the time of the pandemic. <\/p>\n
It was reported towards the end of last season that talks of a possible return for the Turkish Grand Prix had intensified<\/a>, putting a smile on a lot of fans\u2019 faces in the process. <\/p>\n Via Autosport<\/a>, it looks like the ball has gotten rolling again, and we could possibly see a return to Istanbul Park as early as 2026.<\/p>\n READ MORE:\u00a0The best moments of Lewis Hamilton\u2019s career in Formula 1<\/a><\/p>\n F1 fans would love to see the grid return to Istanbul Park permanently in the future<\/p>\n After the news broke, F1 fans took to the social media platform, X, to rejoice over the sport\u2019s potential return to the Turkish capital city that has produced some thrilling Grands Prix in the past. <\/p>\n \u201cExcellent news! Istanbul Park is by far and away one of the best tracks in history and easily in my top 3 of all time!\u201d one user posted, whilst another stated, \u201cAbout time! It\u2019s a great circuit.\u201d<\/p>\n One user referenced the inbound Madrid Grand Prix that is taking place next September<\/a> as a possible entry point for the race, as F1 can drop the Spanish Grand Prix in favour, posting, \u201cWith the addition of Madrid from 2026, there\u2019s no need to keep Barcelona on the calendar. Drop Barcelona and bring back Istanbul from 2026, please!\u201d<\/p>\n Turkey’s Istanbul Park is prepared to step in for the 2026 #F1<\/a> calendar and says it is targeting a \u201clong-term\u201d return to the F1 circuit \u2935\ufe0fhttps:\/\/t.co\/dGIAlX0oQi<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Motorsport.com (@Motorsport) July 29, 2025<\/a> <\/p>\n View Tweet<\/p>\n Another user shared the same sentiment, writing, \u201cAlonso is the driver with the most podiums in Istanbul,\u00a0and it\u2019s undoubtedly a beautiful track. You have Barcelona, guys, don\u2019t worry, let us see Alonso get a podium in Istanbul next year for one last time.\u201d<\/p>\n A Spanish user even stated that they wouldn\u2019t mind if the Madrid Grand Prix was scrapped in place for the Turkish GP, posting, \u201cI\u2019m from Madrid and I\u2019m really eager to go to the circuit if I can next year, but I wouldn\u2019t say no to a race in Turkey.\u201d<\/p>\n READ MORE:\u00a0Aston Martin driver Fernando Alonso\u2019s life outside F1 from net worth to Cars 2<\/a><\/p>\n Which drivers would love to see the Turkish Grand Prix return to the F1 calendar? <\/p>\n Lewis Hamilton is the only current F1 driver to have stood on the top step of the podium at Istanbul Park, winning the Grand Prix in 2010 with McLaren and 2020 with Mercedes. The latter was the same race in which he clinched his record-equalling seventh drivers\u2019 world championship.<\/p>\n Hamilton has previously stated his love for the Istanbul Park circuit<\/a>, even though he thought it was \u2018terrifying\u2019 during the 2020 race due to the resurfaced tarmac.<\/p>\n YearWinnerTeam2005Kimi RaikkonenMcLaren2006Felipe MassaFerrari2007Felipe MassaFerrari2008Felipe MassaFerrari2009Jenson ButtonBrawn2010Lewis HamiltonMcLaren2011Sebastian VettelRed Bull2020Lewis HamiltonMercedes2021Valtteri BottasMercedesWinners of the Turkish Grand Prix<\/p>\n Fernando Alonso is another driver who would welcome the return to the Bosphorus Strait. The two-time world champion currently holds the most podiums at the circuit with four. Hamilton has one less than him with three. <\/p>\n Valtteri Bottas was the most recent winner of the race, which took place in 2021. The Finn beat Max Verstappen to the chequered flag, and with a seat at Cadillac on the cards for Bottas<\/a>, he might be licking his lips at the prospect of returning to the track in 2026. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n