After more than a decade off the Formula 1 calendar, the Indian government is stepping up its efforts to bring the pinnacle of motorsport back to the Buddh International Circuit in Greater Noida. The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports is working to remove the tax burden and bureaucratic hurdles that once derailed the Indian Grand Prix, Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya told the media on Monday, February 2.
The Indian Grand Prix was first held in 2011 at the 5.125 km Buddh International Circuit, located along the Yamuna Expressway in Uttar Pradesh. The event was a landmark addition to the Formula 1 calendar, attracting huge crowds and worldwide attention. During its brief three-year run from 2011 to 2013, the race became part of the end-of-season championship. Sebastian Vettel won all three editions for Red Bull Racing.
However, the spectacle lasted only a short time. Despite strong fan interest and first-class track facilities, the Indian Grand Prix was dropped from the FIA Formula One World Championship after the 2013 season – a victim not of sporting concerns but deep financial and political disputes between the organizers and the Indian government.
WHY WAS THE INDIAN GRAND PRIX CANCELED
At the heart of the collapse was a dispute over taxation and regulatory classification. The Uttar Pradesh state government and central authorities viewed Formula One as entertainment rather than a sporting event and subjected it to heavy entertainment and luxury taxes that dramatically increased the cost of hosting the race. The classification has undermined efforts to secure tax breaks and financial incentives usually given to major sporting events, squeezing organizers’ budgets.
Further complicating the problem were tariffs and bureaucratic hurdles on imported racing equipment, which added millions in costs to teams and organizers. These controversies compounded the financial losses for Jaypee Sports International, the promoter of the event, which had invested heavily in the construction of the circuit — a project reportedly costing more than US$400 million.
Despite the original plan for a short hiatus in 2014 with a planned return in 2015, the Grand Prix never got its place. Contractual and financial disagreements proved too deep to bridge, and the event was formally postponed.
The exit from F1 has left a void in Indian motorsport. Sporadic efforts to host international series, including Formula E at the Hyderabad Street Circuit and the MotoGP race at Buddha, have offered momentary highs, but neither has restored F1’s global reputation.
Now, after years of absence, the Indian government appears poised to address the exact issues that led to the 2013 exit.
Although no official calendar date has been announced, sources suggest the government is in talks with Formula 1 management and other stakeholders about a possible return.
With a large aspirational middle class and a growing car culture, the Indian market remains ripe for motorsport expansion.
Still, challenges remain. India’s place in the crowded F1 calendar, which had 24 races in the 2025 season, is far from guaranteed. New circuits in Qatar, Las Vegas and China are competing for slots and Formula 1 will need to be confident not only of India’s commercial potential but also of its long-term commitment to hosting a world-class event.
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Issued by:
Akshay Ramesh
Published on:
February 2, 2026