The Turkish Grand Prix is slated to make a comeback to the Formula 1 calendar starting from 2027, marking a new five-year agreement. Istanbul Park last hosted the event in 2020 and 2021, when the pandemic led to schedule adjustments.
It will join Portugal's Portimao as a returning track in the upcoming calendar, following the conclusion of the Dutch Grand Prix after this season and the rotation of the Barcelona and Spa-Francorchamps circuits into biannual events. According to F1 president Stefano Domenicali, "The return to Istanbul from 2027 is a thrilling prospect for fans worldwide, as it offers one of the most challenging circuits in Formula 1, set against the vibrant backdrop of a city that bridges Europe and Asia." Istanbul initially joined the F1 calendar in 2005 and became famous for its high-speed Turn 8, a series of left-hand corners that push drivers to their limits due to high g-forces. Notable past winners include Felipe Massa, who won three consecutive Turkish Grands Prix from 2006 to 2008. The track fell off the calendar after 2011 but briefly returned in 2020 and 2021, with Lewis Hamilton securing a record-equalling seventh world title in a chaotic rain-affected race in 2020, and Valtteri Bottas claiming victory in the wet 2021 Turkish Grand Prix.
Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed his delight, stating, "Turkey's return to the Formula 1 calendar reflects the strong confidence in our country's organisational capabilities, modern sports infrastructure, and renowned hospitality." With Turkey rejoining the schedule, 24 tracks now have contracts for 2027, indicating that any new events would not join the calendar until 2028 at the earliest. Potential future destinations for F1 include Thailand's Bangkok and a race in Africa, a continent that last hosted a Grand Prix in 1993 in Kyalami, South Africa. Lewis Hamilton has voiced his desire to see a Grand Prix in Africa, having visited 10 countries on the continent and pushing F1's bosses for at least seven years to make it happen.
Hamilton expressed his intention to continue in Formula 1 until an African Grand Prix is secured, highlighting the continent's potential and his personal connection to Africa.