Hopes for Turkey’s return to the Formula 1 calendar have been rekindled by recent statements made by Eren Üçlertoprağı, President of the Turkish Automobile Sports Federation (TOSFED). Üçlertoprağı confirmed that negotiations with Formula 1 management are ongoing and stated that allegations circulating on social media, including an annual offer of €60 million, are untrue.
Formula 1 Returns to Turkish Land
Recently, journalist Pedro Fermin Flores’ post, “Liberty Media is evaluating Turkey’s offer of at least five seasons and €60 million per year to replace Madrid in 2026,” caused considerable controversy in the motorsports community. TOSFED President Eren Üçlertoprağı felt compelled to issue a statement following these claims, putting an end to the speculation.
Addressing sports fans on Instagram, Üçlertoprağı confirmed the official nature of the talks, saying, “We are continuing our discussions with the Formula 1 administration within the authority granted to our federation by our state, and we hope to be able to provide you with positive news regarding the return of the Turkish GP.” However, he unequivocally rejected the figure claims, saying, “We particularly request that you disregard any news that is inaccurate in terms of content and the figures mentioned. If the process is completed positively, you will be the first to hear about it from us.”
The basis of the Formula 1 negotiations is the recent transfer of full operational responsibility for the Istanbul Park circuit to TOSFED. With the protocol signed between the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Turkey and the Ministry of Youth and Sports of the Republic of Turkey, management of the track, Turkey’s largest sports facility, was transferred to the federation.
Üçlertoprağı described this historic step as a milestone for our sport, stating that their goal is to revitalize the facility by prioritizing public benefit. Recalling that the track has been idle for a long time, the president outlined the plans for the upcoming period as follows:
Comprehensive Revision: The track will initially undergo detailed renovation and modernization.
Event Center: The track will be transformed into a 365-day live center hosting national and international races, athlete training programs, safe driving training, and automotive industry events.
New Karting Track: A new karting track meeting international standards will be constructed within the facility.
Üçlertoprağı thanked President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Minister of Youth and Sports Osman Aşkın Bak, and Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoy for their support in starting this new chapter, emphasizing the strong state support for the project.
