Formula One Reaches New Agreement To Return To Turkey

 

FI has announced the reintroduction of the Turkish Grand Prix to the FIA calendar from next season, and it will run until the 2031 season. 

The development was confirmed on Wednesday in a statement from the governing body, which announced that a five-year agreement had been reached with the Turkish Ministry of Youth and Sport, returning racing events to Istanbul Park. 

Turkey joined the F1 calendar in 2005 and hosted its first event in 2020, and closed in 2021. Since then, the circuit has been closed, with Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas being the only two recent champions. Both drivers won the race for Mercedes. In that period, it hosted seven races in total between 2005 and 2011, and then, from 2020 to 2021. 

"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," said F1 President and C.E.O. Stefano Domenicali. 

The circuit is a 5.33-kilometer  layout, and Ferrari is the most successful team on the grid. Retired Ferrari driver Felipe Massa leads the Turkish Grand Prix with three consecutive Grand Prix victories in 2006, 2007, and 2008. Retired F1 drivers such as Kimi Raikkonen (McLaren), Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari)l, and Jenson Button have all won a race apiece in Istanbul. However, Ferrari is the most successful team in Istanbul with four victories.