Turkey's Istanbul Park circuit will rejoin the Formula One calendar from 2027 for a minimum of five years, according to the Turkish presidency. This agreement concludes a multi-year effort to bring the sport back to the nation.
While financial terms remain undisclosed, President Tayyip Erdogan is slated to formally announce the pact alongside F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali and FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem. The circuit, situated on Istanbul's Asian side, was last a venue in 2021 as a pandemic replacement, having previously hosted races between 2005-2011 and in 2020. The 2020 event notably saw Lewis Hamilton secure his record-equalling seventh world championship.
Negotiations for a return stalled in recent years, partly due to the substantial costs required for a deal. However, Can Bilim Egitim Kurumlari A.S., a firm with ties to F1 tyre supplier Pirelli, secured operating rights for Istanbul Park for 30 years in 2024 for approximately $117.8 million. The new operators aimed to secure F1's return by 2026, but initial talks faced hurdles.
In February, F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali indicated Istanbul Park was close to rejoining the calendar, potentially in a rotational format, while maintaining the season's cap of 24 races.