The file of a return of Formula 1 to India perfectly illustrates the frequent gap between political ambition and the commercial reality of the championship: a Grand Prix at Buddh is a fantasy…
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On one side, the Indian Minister of Sports Mansukh Mandaviya shows great confidence by announcing a return as early as 2027 at the Buddh International Circuit, with the promise to resolve the tax and administrative problems that had led to the abandonment of the event after 2013.
On the other, the official response from F1 is clear: no return is planned at this deadline. A debt of more than 50 million dollars from previous editions owed to Liberty Media obviously does not help matters.
Too complex taxation
This divergence is explained by several structural constraints. First, the F1 calendar is now saturated. With a limited number of Grands Prix — already close to the maximum logistically sustainable — each new entry almost implies an exit or rotation with an existing circuit. However, the competition is extremely strong, especially in the Middle East and North America, where promoters offer very high financial and logistical guarantees.
Then, India’s past experience remains a sensitive point. The Buddh International Circuit had hosted races between 2011 and 2013, but tax disputes — notably on the status of F1 depending on whether it is considered a sport or entertainment — had greatly complicated the economic viability of the event. Even if the current government promises adjustments, Formula 1 now demands total regulatory and financial stability before committing.
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Administrative nightmare
Finally, F1’s current strategy favors markets offering both high commercial value, proven infrastructure, and immediate global visibility. India remains a market with high potential — especially in terms of fans with 1.5 billion inhabitants — but still insufficiently structured according to the current standards of the championship.
The idea of using MotoGP as a “test” is interesting operationally, but it does not guarantee a quick return of F1. The administrative complications, typical of Indian bureaucracy, have cooled goodwill, notably embodied by former driver Karun Chandhok and his father Vicky, a FIA bigwig.
In practice, if a return were to materialize, it would rather be in a post-2027 perspective, conditioned on solid guarantees and a freed spot in an already extremely busy calendar.
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