Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has announced that the Istanbul Park circuit will officially host the Formula 1 World Championship races for five consecutive seasons.
According to Erdoğan in a speech delivered yesterday as part of the Formula 1 Turkish Grand Prix Introduction Program, which was held in the garden of the presidential office in Dolma Bahçe Palace, the Istanbul Circuit will host the Formula 1 edition from 2027 and will continue until 2031.
Erdogan promised fans to present "dazzling, exciting and fun" races worthy of Turkey's sporting standing in the world.
Erdoğan stressed that this sport is extremely popular in Turkey, especially among the youth, as it is one of the largest sports organizations that combines the pleasure of watching with the latest engine technologies in the world.
Rich history and records
President Erdoğan recalled Turkey's history with the sport, noting that it has hosted the race 9 times before, 7 of them in the golden period between 2005 and 2011, and two exceptional times during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021.
He pointed out that the first race in 2005 set a record with the attendance of more than 110,000 spectators, which reflects Turkey's passion for motorsports.
Significance of return
Erdogan considered that the re-inclusion of "Istanbul Park" in the international racing schedule is not just a sporting event, but "a new indication of great confidence in Turkey's strong organizational capacity" and its advanced infrastructure in the fields of sports, health and transportation.
He said that this step strengthens Turkey's role as an "island of stability" in its region, and its ability to attract major global events.
The Turkish President concluded his speech by congratulating those in charge of this achievement, expressing his hope that the partnership between Turkey and the management of Formula 1 will continue for many years to come and in a stronger way. It is noteworthy that the official announcement issued by the Formula 1 World Championship and the Turkish presidency has confirmed the return of the circuit to the global schedule for 5 years, ending the long wait for speed enthusiasts in the region.