SPORTS MINISTRY is exploring the possibility of bringing Formula 1 back to the Buddh International Circuit, with initial discussions already underway to revive the race last held in India in 2013.
Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya recently visited the Greater Noida-based circuit and held meetings with officials from the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA), the state-run body that assumed control of the facility after the Jaypee Group, its original owner, went bankrupt, PTI reported.
Adani Group is among the contenders to acquire the debt-laden Jaypee Group, and sources suggest that a successful takeover could accelerate efforts to restore Formula 1 to the Indian sporting calendar.
India hosted three Formula 1 Grands Prix between 2011 and 2013, but the race was eventually dropped due to taxation disputes and bureaucratic challenges.
However, the task is far from straightforward. Formula 1 is currently operating on a record 24-race calendar and faces no shortage of interest from nations eager to host a Grand Prix. Hosting costs are significant, typically ranging from USD 20 million to USD 60 million per season, with several races heavily subsidised by governments, particularly in oil-rich Middle Eastern countries.
India’s key advantage lies in its existing infrastructure. The Buddh International Circuit remains a world-class venue, and the races held there in the previous decade attracted substantial crowds before being derailed by regulatory and taxation hurdles.
