There has been renewed interest in bringing Formula 1 back to India. The Adani Group, which is currently in the running to acquire the Buddh International Circuit, has now confirmed that it is actively exploring plans to revive the Indian Grand Prix.
Speaking at the recent 70th Foundation Day of the All India Management Association, Karan Adani (MD of Adani Ports and SEZ Ltd) said, “I’m very excited because with Jaypee, obviously the Buddh circuit comes as part of the deal. I’m personally engaged in terms of bringing Formula 1 back to India.”
- Buddh International Circuit hosted F1 from 2011-2013
- Adani Group exploring plans to revive Indian GP
Adani leading bid to acquire Buddh International Circuit
The Adani Group is bidding to acquire Jaiprakash Associates Ltd (JAL), the parent company of the Jaypee Group which also owns the Buddh International Circuit. In November last year, the group secured majority lender approval for its Rs 14,535 crore takeover bid, which included a higher upfront payment than rival bidders.
The Buddh International Circuit famously hosted the F1 Indian Grand Prix from 2011-2013. The track and its surrounding infrastructure drew praise from the F1 community at large, but the race was dropped from the calendar largely due to the taxation of policy of the Uttar Pradesh government at the time, which classified F1 as entertainment rather than sport.
World championship racing returned to the Buddh International Circuit, with MotoGP making its India debut in 2023. However, despite having a three-year agreement with the Uttar Pradesh Government, MotoGP is yet to return to India.
Recent reports stated that Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya visited the Buddh International Circuit, fuelling further speculation about renewed government interest. Should Adani’s acquisition go through, it certainly paves the way for new commercial negotiations with F1.
“I think India has a lot of potential; there’s a lot of following for Formula 1 from India,” Adani shared. “And I do believe that India can really showcase how the whole sport can be brought in and can be a benchmark for a global event.”
He added, “It’s not just about doing one race for three days. It’s basically how do you showcase the heritage of India.”
What’s needed for F1 to return to India
Despite growing optimism, there’s still a long way to go for F1 to return to India. With the popularity of F1 skyrocketing, hosting fees now reportedly range from $70 million to $150 million per race.
Circuits are competing for a spot on an already packed F1 calendar and several classic venues have already had to make a compromise. 2026 will mark Zanvoort’s last F1 race, while the championship has already announced plans to alternate races between Belgium’s Spa Francorchamps and Spain’s Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.
Nevertheless, there’s no denying that India remains a largely untapped market with tremendous potential. As per an official F1 statement made in December 2025, the championship has a fanbase of 79 million in the country. Bringing the pinnacle of motorsport back to India will require robust government support and a committed promoter.
