Formula 1 has ruled out any possibility of a return to India in 2027, following media reports that the Buddh International Circuit could be included on the calendar.<\/p>\n
Reports out of India suggested that a return of the Indian Grand Prix could be viable in 2027, but PlanetF1.com understands these claims are wide of the mark.<\/p>\n
Formula 1 dismisses India 2027 return plans<\/p>\n
Want more PlanetF1.com coverage? Add us as a preferred source on Google to your favourites list<\/a> for news you can trust.<\/p>\n On Monday, reports claimed that India\u2019s sports minister Mansukh Mandanayiva is eager to see a return of the Indian Grand Prix at the Buddh International Circuit as early as 2027.<\/p>\n \u201cThere will be an F1 race in India in 2027. First race will be at the Buddha International Circuit,\u201d Mandaviya said, as reported by several Indian news agencies.<\/p>\n However, Formula 1 has shot down the possibility of returning to India, at least in such a short timeframe, with a spokesperson telling PlanetF1.com that, \u201cWhile India is a valuable market for Formula 1\u2019s continued growth with an amazing passionate fanbase, we won\u2019t be racing there in 2027.<\/p>\n \u201cInterest in hosting Formula 1 events has never been stronger, and there is a limited number of spaces on the calendar.\u201d<\/p>\n The Buddh International Circuit played host to three events between 2011 and \u201913, but fell off the calendar due to taxation and bureaucratic hurdles, due to the treatment of F1 as being entertainment rather than sport, as the event failed to gain governmental support at the time.<\/p>\n This had impacts such as the then-promoters JPSK Sports,\u00a0 a subsidiary of the Jaypee Group conglomerate, being denied permission to remit licencing fees back to Formula 1, customs fees for teams\u2019 engines and tyres not being waived, and applicable tax exemptions for other sports not being applied to Formula 1.<\/p>\n As of the start of Liberty Media\u2019s ownership of Formula 1 in 2017, the Jaypee Group owed $51 million in unpaid race fees, a figure that is understood to have never been recovered in the decade since.<\/p>\n In 2017, the Supreme Court of India also levied a 40 per cent tax on F1\u2019s income in the country, resulting in Liberty Media setting aside $14.8 million in fees to address this bill.<\/p>\n According to Mandayiva, the Indian government will play a part in changing its approach to Formula 1 in a bid to tempt the sport back.<\/p>\n \u201cIt will take another six months to work out the modalities,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cThe government will help in getting the tax relaxations that had become a bone of contention, so that it is a viable venture for the organisers.<\/p>\n \u201cGiven the global situation due to the ongoing Iran war, India is being seen as a safe and viable venue for sporting events, including F1.<\/p>\n \u201cWe plan to have a MotoGP event before F1 returns. The Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India (FMSCI) is in talks with Formula 1 right now, and we will be facilitators.\u201d<\/p>\n The Adani Group is set to acquire the Jaypee Group\u2019s assets, including the Buddh International Circuit, and has signalled interest in bringing back Formula 1 to the country.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m very excited\u2026 obviously the Buddh circuit comes (as) part of the deal,\u201d Karan Adani said, as quoted by the\u00a0Economic Times.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m very personally engaged in terms of bringing Formula 1 back into India. I think India has a lot of potential. There\u2019s a lot of following in Formula 1 from India.<\/p>\n \u201cReputation of India and Indians has improved very, very significantly\u2026 I do believe that India can really showcase Formula 1\u2026 and can be a benchmark for a global event.\u201d<\/p>\n In December 2025, F1\u2019s renewal of its TV broadcast deal with FanCode revealed a fanbase of around 79 million in the country.<\/p>\n \u201c[It\u2019s not just Buddh], we have good tracks in Chennai and Hyderabad as well,\u201d Mandayiva said.<\/p>\n \u201cThe government\u2019s role would be to deliver on infrastructure and handle tax-related issues.<\/p>\n \u201cFor instance, if the entertainment tax cannot be altogether repealed, we will try to ensure that reimbursements are provided to incentivise the project for the organisers. Discussions are ongoing on this issue.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is an inter-ministerial matter, and we are trying our best to make it attractive for Formula 1.\u201d<\/p>\n As it stands, the F1 2027 calendar has 23 slots lined up as the Dutch Grand Prix falls off, Portugal returns, and the Barcelona round makes way for Spa-Francorchamps on its six-year rotation.<\/p>\n This leaves the door open for further slots to be filled, a number which may grow if the Middle East regional conflict continues in the medium-term: following the cancellation of the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix, PlanetF1.com understands that the concluding races in Qatar and Abu Dhabi are also in question if the conflict in the area continues.<\/p>\n If the situation isn\u2019t resolved, then this regional conflict could also have an impact in 2027, meaning that the four Middle Eastern races\u2019 hosting is uncertain.<\/p>\n Race hosting fees in the Middle East are particularly lucrative, with PlanetF1.com estimates suggesting Bahrain and Saudi Arabia pay circa $60 million annually, while races in Asia vary from $40 million [Japan] to $60 million [China], with Singapore also around $40 million.<\/p>\n Want to be the first to know exclusive information from the F1 paddock? Join our broadcast channel on WhatsApp<\/a> to get the scoop on the latest developments from our team of accredited journalists.<\/p>\n You can also subscribe to the PlanetF1 YouTube channel<\/a> for exclusive features, hear from our paddock journalists with stories from the heart of Formula 1 and much more!<\/p>\n