The deal, confirmed by Formula 1 in April, covers five Turkish Grands Prix from 2027 to 2031, with the Turkish Automobile Sports Federation (TOSFED) acting as F1’s delivery partner in conjunction with Türkiye’s Ministry of Youth and Sports.

Istanbul Park first joined the championship in 2005 and quickly built its reputation on a single corner. The 5.33-kilometre track is best known for its multi-apex Turn 8, a long, downhill left-hander that puts drivers through some of the highest sustained lateral loads of any modern F1 circuit. Felipe Massa won there three years in a row between 2006 and 2008.

The track sat empty from 2011 until the pandemic-reorganised seasons of 2020 and 2021, when Formula 1 briefly returned. Lewis Hamilton clinched his seventh world championship at a rain-hit Istanbul race in 2020, matching Michael Schumacher’s all-time record; Valtteri Bottas won the last race there a year later.

Domenicali frames it as a driver favourite

Stefano Domenicali, Formula 1’s president and chief executive, sold the return as a comeback for one of the sport’s most demanding venues.

Read also: Vinicius publicly roasted by Espanyol after penalty-box theatrics

“We are delighted to be returning to the incredible and vibrant city of Istanbul from 2027 to thrill all our fans in Turkey and around the world on one of the most exciting and challenging circuits in Formula 1,” Domenicali said.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan tied the announcement to the country’s wider ambition to host global sporting events.

“I regard Turkey’s return to the Formula 1 calendar as a clear reflection of the strong confidence placed in our country, in our robust organisational capacity, in our modern sports and healthcare infrastructure, and, of course, in the renowned hospitality of the Turkish Nation,” Erdoğan said.

Zandvoort out, Portimão in, Spa and Barcelona alternate

Istanbul’s return lands in the middle of a broader reshuffle. The Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort leaves the calendar after this season, while Portugal’s Portimão circuit is set to come back on a two-year deal for 2027 and 2028. Spa-Francorchamps and Barcelona will alternate from 2027, with the Belgian round scheduled for 2027, 2029 and 2031, and the Spanish round in 2028, 2030 and 2032.

Read also: Michael Schumacher vanished from public life

Turkey holds a fixed place in every year of the cycle where its neighbours are trading slots. Tickets for the first race, in 2027, are already listed on F1’s official ticketing site and by TOSFED.

Read also: Tony Romo formally charged with OWI (operating while intoxicated) in Wisconsin