Which Circuits Could Join the F1 Calendar in the Future?

From the spectacular Velocity Park in Qiddiya, to the return of the South African Grand Prix and the timeless rumours of a race in London, listed here are all the newest rumours about which tracks may quickly earn a spot on the F1 calendar.

Header Picture: Qiddiya Media

Within the ever-evolving world of Components 1, nothing stays static for too lengthy. That features the number of circuits on which the game races on. For the reason that flip of the millennium, 17 new venues have joined the F1 calendar, whereas a handful of different tracks – together with Zandvoort within the Netherlands and Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in Mexico Metropolis – have made welcome returns.

Another tracks, like Hanoi Avenue Circuit in Vietnam and Igora Drive in Russia, have signed contracts with Components 1 however have by no means been raced on, whereas different rumoured venues have by no means made concrete plans to safe a place on the calendar.

When Will New Circuits Be a part of the F1 Calendar?

What we all know for sure – barring any unexpected circumstances – is that no new circuits shall be becoming a member of the F1 calendar in 2025. All 24 races that are being staged within the 2024 season have contracts to return to the schedule subsequent yr. Below the present business settlement, the F1 calendar is capped at 24 rounds for the 2025 season.

It’s attainable that when the brand new business settlement is signed, the utmost variety of rounds will enhance from 24. It’s unlikely to go any greater than 25, nonetheless, as crew bosses and personnel have already expressed issues over workload with many feeling that 24 races per season is already pushing the bounds.

Not too long ago, Components 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali hinted that some European rounds could start to be held biennially, alternating with each other. It’s rumoured that the Belgian and Dutch Grands Prix would be the first races to alternate, beginning in 2026. If that’s the case and – as well as – F1 doesn’t renew its contract with outgoing present Spanish Grand Prix host Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya (which shall be changed with a brand new observe in Madrid in 2026), there shall be at the very least one obtainable slot on the 2026 F1 calendar for a brand new race to happen.

So, which tracks are in pole place to take up any doubtlessly vacant slots on the Components 1 calendar? Listed below are all the newest rumours about which circuits are vying for a spot on the schedule.

Qiddiya Velocity Park, Saudi Arabia

When Jeddah Corniche Circuit joined the Components 1 calendar to host the inaugural Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in 2021, it was by no means meant to be a long-term everlasting venue. As a substitute, there are grand ambitions for a brand new observe close to Qiddiya’s Six Flags theme park, round 60km south-west of Saudi Arabia’s capital Riyadh.

Pictures: Qiddiya Media

Below development since 2019 and initially anticipated to open in 2023, the 21-turn observe is being designed by Hermann Tilke’s firm with enter from former driver, Alexander Wurz. The structure is predicted to have loads of undulation – together with a 20-storey excessive first flip – and will exceed Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps because the longest observe on the F1 calendar.

With loads of development work nonetheless to finish, the observe is just not anticipated to be prepared till 2028 on the earliest. In January 2023, race organisers confirmed that the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix would stay at Jeddah Corniche Circuit till at the very least 2027.

Istanbul Park, Turkey

After a nine-year absence, the Turkish Grand Prix made a welcome return to the Components 1 calendar amid the coronavirus pandemic in 2020. The occasion returned to the calendar once more in 2021 following the cancellation of the Singapore Grand Prix. The 2021 race was the primary open to the general public on the observe since 2011 and had a weekend attendance of 190,000.

Now, it’s understood that Turkey is eager for its Grand Prix to return to the schedule as soon as extra. In early March 2024, FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem met with Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan for a gathering during which the return of each the World Rally Championship and Components 1 was mentioned.

It’s believed that the push for a return of the Turkish Grand Prix has come because of Intercity’s leasehold of the observe expiring and the tender demanding that the brand new homeowners will safe the circuit a slot on the Components 1 calendar from 2026.

Kyalami, South Africa

The potential return of the South African Grand Prix has dominated speculative headlines in recent times. The occasion was final held over 30 years in the past, in 1993. Kyalami seemed set to return to the calendar in 2023, till a deal to carry the race again fell by means of in August 2022.

Regardless of quite a few setbacks, it’s understood that Components 1 stays eager to return to South Africa, ideally on the Kyalami circuit, the previous host of the occasion positioned simply north of Johannesburg. In June final yr, Autosport reported that F1 had paused plans to revive the occasion in 2024 however remained open to including the race to the 2025 calendar.

Chicago, United States

In early 2024, Chicago was rumoured to be lined as much as grow to be the fourth race in the USA on the Components 1 calendar.

The hearsay emerged when Components 1 utilized to trademark the title ‘Chicago Grand Prix’ and ‘Grand Prix of Chicago’; one thing which it has beforehand executed prematurely of different new race bulletins, like these in Miami, Las Vegas and Madrid.

The appliance for a trademark doesn’t essentially verify that F1 is contemplating internet hosting a race in Chicago. NASCAR not too long ago introduced that it might race on a road observe in Chicago. Components 1 could have utilized for the trademark to cease the sequence utilizing the ‘Grand Prix’ identify for its occasion.

Metropolis officers have stated that internet hosting an F1 race in Chicago is unlikely resulting from a “non-negotiable” minimal 10-year contract. Notably, F1 beforehand trademarked the title ‘New York Grand Prix’ in late 2017, however there stays but to be any concrete plans for a race in New York.

Osaka, Japan

In January 2024, it was reported that officers in Osaka have been seeking to carry Components 1 to the streets of the Japanese metropolis. Osaka’s tourism board introduced their plans and mentioned their intentions in a press convention.

Particular plans past the preliminary formal announcement are but to emerge, and little or no has been heard in regards to the mission since Components 1 introduced a five-year contract extension with Suzuka – present host of the Japanese Grand Prix – in February 2024. Hiroshi Mizohata, president of Osaka’s tourism board stated that the announcement had “no impression” on plans for an Osaka race.

London, Britain

The hearsay that by no means totally goes away: the London Grand Prix. Might Components 1 feasibly maintain a race within the British capital? It’s tough to think about a part of town shutting all the way down to host F1 every year.

In 2023, Stefano Domenicali stated that an F1 race in London can be “nice” however added that there had been no discussions with any potential race promoters.

Silverstone not too long ago signed a brand new contract to host the British Grand Prix for an additional ten years, by means of to 2034. It implies that if London have been to hitch the calendar, it might accomplish that as a further spherical to the Silverstone race.

Balaton Park Circuit, Hungary

Balaton Park Circuit, positioned round 85km from Budapest, may try to take the Hungarian Grand Prix away from its long-term host sooner or later. The Hungaroring – host of the Hungarian Grand Prix in yearly because the occasion joined the F1 calendar in 1986 – presently holds a contract to host Hungary’s Grand Prix till 2032.

The brand new 4.115km observe – designed to FIA Grade 1 requirements – opened in Could 2023 and is because of host the Superbike World Championship for the primary time in 2024, in addition to being the reserve venue for the MotoGP championship.

Board members say that internet hosting F1 is just not a “important goal”, however added that the observe is “prepared for any type of motorsport occasion”.

Barranquilla, Colombia

Stefano Domenicali visited Barranquilla in Colombia in late 2022, to have a look at totally different choices for observe areas inside the metropolis for a possible “Caribbean Grand Prix”.

In 2023, talking to the Colombian outlet Semana TV, former F1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya stated {that a} deal to make the Colombian Grand Prix a actuality was “95% executed” earlier than F1, based on Montoya, opted so as to add Madrid to the calendar as a substitute. Within the interview, Montoya stated it was nonetheless a chance that the circuit – the structure of which had already been determined – may be a part of the calendar by 2028.

Gujarat, India

If there’s a mass market which Components 1 has not capitalised on, it’s absolutely India. The Indian Grand Prix was on the Components 1 calendar for simply three seasons between 2011 and 2013 on the tough to succeed in Buddh Worldwide Circuit however the race was discontinued in 2014 resulting from monetary and bureaucratic points.

In early 2024, it was reported that the federal government of Gujarat hoped to carry Components 1 to its state and had invited proposals to discover a appropriate location for a brand new observe inside the under-construction Gujarat Worldwide Finance Tec-Metropolis.

After all, a return to the Buddh Worldwide Circuit is just not solely out of the query. MotoGP visited the circuit, which has retained its FIA Grade 1 standing, for the primary time in 2023.

Which circuit would you prefer to see be a part of the Components 1 calendar? Go away a remark under.