As the sport continues to explode in global popularity, there will naturally be competition for countries to join the F1 calendar. But how likely are we to see new — or some iconic classic tracks — make their return?
F1 is becoming a very popular sport and the momentum is not likely to stop anytime soon. Earlier this season, Nielsen Sports revealed that F1 now has a global fanbase of 826.5 million — an increase of 90 million fans over the 2023 season. Interestingly, as revealed by the 2025 Global F1 Fan Survey, it’s the younger fans who hunger for a piece of the high-speed action.
What’s more, F1: The Movie marked a significant cultural milestone for the sport as the pinnacle of motorsports finally crossed over with Hollywood in a way that authentically embedded real drivers, team principals, and those within the paddock on the big screens.
But what does this mean for countries that want to join or return to the F1 calendar? It’s clear that F1’s exposure pays well for everyone involved (think brands, teams, drivers, and F1’s Management), but there’s a ton of nuance in hosting an F1 race.
What Do Countries Need To Consider Before Hosting a F1 Race?
Let’s examine the various components that contribute to the total cost if a Grand Prix organiser decides to host a F1 race.
- All circuits that host an F1 Grand Prix need a Grade 1 license from the FIA. If the country doesn’t already have a track ready to race, it would need to build one from scratch.
- On top of this, many moving components are required for a purpose-built F1 circuit to be ready for a race. This includes setting up the grandstands, safety barriers and fencing, race pits, and many more.
- Apart from the cost for setting up the event, all revenue from track sponsors and broadcasting rights for races goes to Liberty Media, which owns the commercial rights to F1.
Madrid, for example, reportedly paid F1 48 million euros a year to host an F1 race, according to Spanish media outlet TV3. If the figure is accurate, over the course of a 10-year contract to run the race around the world-class IFEMA exhibition centre, the event itself could cost organisers over half a billion dollars.
Given the cost factors, it’s easy to see why it can be a herculean effort for governments from various countries to host a Formula 1 race, let alone host it successfully over many years. Despite this, given how much the sport has exploded in global popularity and an ever-growing race calendar, the draw for new countries and past Grand Prix organisers to return can be hard to resist.
So, let’s look at the possibilities of an F1 race happening in these countries.
Malaysia
Located just outside Kuala Lumpur, Sepang made its debut on the F1 calendar in 1999. The track not only featured a blend of high-speed straights and fluid corner combinations, but the unpredictable tropical climate also meant drivers often had to battle with intense heat and high humidity during a race.
This circuit captured some of the most historic moments in the sport — think of Checo’s near-miss to his first win in 2012, the infamous “Multi 21” saga in 2013, Lewis’s DNF amidst an intense title fight in 2016, and many more. Sadly, Sepang hosted its last Formula 1 race in 2017 due to rising costs and a decline in ticket sales; something that Sepang CEO admitted in a recent interview was a mistake in hindsight.
Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh recently spoke in Parliament that the Malaysian government currently has no plans to bring F1 back to Sepang, citing factors such as exorbitant costs, regional competition to host an F1 event, and a better return on investment from their current arrangement of hosting MotoGP.
Thailand
International tourism has been and will continue to be a dynamic part of Thailand’s economy. Add F1 into the mix, and you can easily see why the stars align.
It’s no wonder that the Thai cabinet has approved a $1.23 billion bid to host an F1 street race in Bangkok as early as 2028. Spanning across five events between 2028 and 2032, the proposed track would be a 3.54-mile street circuit located between the Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal Station and Chatuchak Park in an area to the north of the city’s centre.
That’s not all. Alex Albon, who is the only Thai driver on the current F1 grid, has met Thailand’s Prime Minister, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, in Bangkok and expressed his support to bring F1 to the streets of Thailand, stating:
“I’m working closely with my management and also Thailand to look at how we can bring it together and create an environment where we can really help people who are interested in motorsport.” – Alex Albon, Driver for Atlassian Williams Racing
Turkey
Istanbul Park made its debut on the F1 calendar in 2005 before hosting its final F1 race in 2011. Although the track made a brief return during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic season and in 2021, there were no plans to bring Turkey back permanently to the F1 calendar.
Since the ownership of the track was recently transferred to the TOSFED, the Turkish Automobile Sports Federation, its federation president, Eren Uclertopragi, has voiced his intention to bring F1 back to Turkey. In a recent interview with Autosport, Uclertopragi shared that Turkey was ready to host an F1 race if any country isn’t able to host one in 2026 and aimed to “secure a place on the calendar through a long-term contract.”
South Africa
The Kyalami circuit was a staple on the F1 calendar from 1967 to 1985, before briefly returning for two years between 1992 and 1993. Plans for F1’s return to South Africa boil down to two tracks: a potential street race in Cape Town and the less picturesque but historic Kyalami race track outside Johannesburg, according to Al Jazeera.
Most recently, Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni confirmed that the bid led by Tom Pearson-Adams, CEO of the Kyalami 9 Hours, has been nominated as the preferred proposal. This bid covers a three-year period and is fully backed by private investors rather than the state.
Will We See More Countries Join The F1 Calendar?
The FIA, F1 Management, and teams on the current grid are bound by a commercial contract dubbed the Concorde Agreement. It dictates everything from race obligations to revenue sharing, including the number of races that can fit the F1 calendar. Under the current Concorde Agreement, which expires by the end of 2025, there can only be a maximum of 24 races per season.
In addition to the countries we mentioned above, F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has also confirmed that Portugal and Germany are expressing interest in their return to the calendar. With some tracks receiving new ownership, Domenicali has cautioned that new organisers must demonstrate financial strength and the ability to meet the 2030 carbon-neutral standards.
At the end of the day, money talks in F1. Through the regime under different management and given how much sports have evolved since their inception 75 years ago, we have to accept that we may not see our favourite classic tracks returning to the calendar.
But what do you think? Would you like to see a new country host an F1 race? Or are you hoping for a return of a classic track?
Feature Image Credit: Red Bull Content Pool