Formula 1 News: India explores Formula 1 return at Buddh circuit, New Tilke track on backburner

In a significant shift for Formula 1’s prospects in India, the focus has moved from ambitious plans for a new track in Gujarat’s GIFT City to reviving the established Buddh International Circuit (BIC) in Greater Noida (pictured) . Originally reported in March 2024, the proposal for a new Hermann Tilke-designed circuit in GIFT City has reportedly stalled due to structural and layout challenges that made it difficult to meet F1 standards.

–by Mark Cipolloni–

Despite initial enthusiasm, including a consortium led by Tilke scoring 98% in evaluations by the Sports Authority of Gujarat, no further progress has been made on the project since mid-2024.

Now, more than a decade after the last Indian Grand Prix in 2013, the Indian government is intensifying efforts to bring F1 back to the BIC. Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya recently visited the circuit, meeting with officials from the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA), which owns and operates the FIA Grade 1 facility. This visit signals a strong push to resolve the tax disputes, bureaucratic hurdles, and “unnecessary red tape” that led to the event’s suspension after just three seasons.

Race winner and 2013 Formula One World Champion Sebastian Vettel (2nd right) of Germany and Infiniti Red Bull Racing is lifted up by second placed Nico Rosberg (2nd left) of Germany and Mercedes GP, third placed Romain Grosjean (right) of France and Lotus and Infiniti Red Bull Racing Chief Technical Officer Adrian Newey (left) following the Indian Formula One Grand Prix at Buddh International Circuit on October 27, 2013 in Noida, India. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images for Red Bull)

Sources from the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS) indicate that Mandaviya has encouraged handing over the organization of the Formula 1 race to a professional event management company for 2-3 years while legal matters, including an ongoing court case related to the Indian Grand Prix, are resolved. A Japanese company has expressed interest in hosting the event, potentially accelerating the revival. Additionally, the Adani Group’s potential acquisition of the troubled Jaypee Group could further momentum, as YEIDA took over the circuit after Jaypee’s bankruptcy in 2024.

The BIC hosted the Indian Grand Prix from 2011 to 2013, with Sebastian Vettel dominating all three races for Red Bull Racing. The inaugural event on October 30, 2011, marked India’s entry into F1 as the 17th round of that season. However, tax issues and operational challenges led to its removal from the calendar. In recent years, the circuit has seen limited action, including a MotoGP round in September 2023, which was subsequently dropped from the 2024 calendar and postponed to early 2025 due to operational considerations.

Discussions are already underway between the government, Formula 1 Management, and other stakeholders to explore a return, though no specific date has been added to the F1 calendar yet. This revival effort aligns with India’s broader ambitions in global sports, including hosting the 2030 Commonwealth Games in Ahmedabad and bidding for the 2036 Olympics.

While the GIFT City project appears dormant, the renewed focus on BIC offers a more feasible path forward, leveraging an existing world-class facility. AutoRacing1.com will continue to monitor developments as India aims to rejoin the F1 grid.

March 11, 2024

German Formula 1 racetrack designer Tilke is bidding to design a new F1 track in Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City) in India.

A consortium of German Formula 1 racetrack designer Tilke, real estate consultancy company CBRE and architecture firm Arcop ranked the highest on a list of six international consultants who are competing for designing a F1 racetrack in Gujarat’s GIFT City that could position the financial center also as an international sporting destination, according to people in the know.

Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City) is a central business district under construction in the Ahmedabad district in Gujarat, India. It is India’s first operational greenfield smart city and international financial services center, which the Government of Gujarat promoted as a greenfield project.

The Tilke-led consortium scored 98% marks in an evaluation conducted by Sports Authority of Gujarat during March 7-8 and is likely to be granted the work order to develop a design for the F1 track, the people said.

British designer Clive Bowen’s consortium with KPMG came in second with a score of 91%. The other bidders included a consortium led by Ahetesham Khan of Nangia Andersen with Italian track designer Jarno Zaffelli and Isha Rathee-led Populous Design that bid solo. International architecture firms Collage Design and Cox Architects and DAR Consultants were also among the bidders.

Tilke did not respond to ET’s queries. ET – Economic Times of India