India's Ambitious Plans to Revive Formula One Racing

The Indian government is actively working to revive Formula One racing in the country by establishing a task force to assess the feasibility of hosting a Grand Prix. This initiative aims to enhance the motorsports ecosystem, address challenges, and explore the economic benefits of such events. With a focus on infrastructure development and creating opportunities for Indian talent, the government is looking to bring back the excitement of Formula One to the Buddh International Circuit, nearly 13 years after the last race. The task force, chaired by Yugal Kishore Joshi, includes various stakeholders from government and motorsport organizations, signaling a promising future for motorsports in India.

By Narendra Chaudhary Sep 16, 2026, 00:04 IST

Reviving Formula One in India

The Indian government is taking steps to potentially bring Formula One racing back to the country. A task force has been established under NITI Aayog to evaluate the feasibility of hosting a Formula One Grand Prix and to create a strategic plan for enhancing the motorsports landscape in India.

This task force will investigate various challenges facing the motorsport sector, including taxation issues, and will propose necessary actions for sustainable growth in the industry.

Additionally, the group will assess the economic, tourism, and investment advantages of hosting motorsport events, while pinpointing essential infrastructure and operational needs.

It will also look into the necessity for a comprehensive policy framework and suggest appropriate Public-Private Partnership (PPP) models to foster the development of motorsports in India.

Yugal Kishore Joshi, PD (YAS) at NITI Aayog, will chair the task force, which includes members from various government departments, state representatives, and motorsport organizations.

This initiative comes as the government considers reviving the Indian Grand Prix at the Buddh International Circuit (BIC) in Greater Noida, nearly 13 years after the last race was held there.

Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya has previously visited the BIC, signaling potential plans to reinstate the Indian Grand Prix.

The Indian Grand Prix took place at the BIC from 2011 to 2013, with Sebastian Vettel from Germany winning all three races for Red Bull Racing.

The inaugural race occurred on October 30, 2011, as part of the 2011 Formula One season, where Vettel claimed victory.

Since 2013, Formula One has not returned to India. However, the country hosted a MotoGP event at the BIC in September 2023, although it has not been a recurring event.

Earlier this year, Arindam Ghosh, President of the Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India (FMSCI), mentioned discussions with the Sports Ministry aimed at bringing Formula One back to India by 2030, along with a round of the World Rally Championship (WRC) and MotoGP by 2028.

During the FMSCI Annual Awards, Ghosh highlighted the importance of developing Indian drivers and enhancing the overall motorsports framework in the country, noting that the feedback from the Sports Ministry was positive.

Force India was India's sole official Formula One team, competing from 2008 to 2018 under an Indian license. The team participated in 212 races and achieved significant milestones, including a pole position and multiple podium finishes.

Sergio Pérez was a prominent driver for Force India from 2014 to 2018, accumulating 400 points and five podium finishes during his tenure.

The team's best performance came at the 2009 Belgian Grand Prix, where Giancarlo Fisichella finished second, marking Force India's first pole position.

Force India secured six podium finishes throughout its Formula One journey, with Pérez contributing five and Fisichella one. The team achieved its highest constructors' championship ranking by finishing fourth in both 2016 and 2017.

India's representation in Formula One also included drivers Narain Karthikeyan and Karun Chandhok, who helped elevate the country's profile in global motorsport.

Karthikeyan made history as India's first Formula One driver in 2005 with the Jordan team and later raced for HRT in 2011 and 2012, earning five championship points.

Chandhok followed as the second Indian driver, debuting in 2010 with HRT and competing in a single race for Lotus in 2011.

Both drivers significantly contributed to increasing India's visibility in Formula One. With the government now evaluating the potential for reviving Formula One in India, the emphasis is on bolstering the motorsports ecosystem, enhancing infrastructure, and creating pathways for Indian talent to compete internationally.