Turkish GP Makes Long-Awaited Return to Formula 1 Calendar
Turkish delight is back on the grid! Fan- and driver-favourite Istanbul Park will officially return to Formula 1 from 2027 on. This article brings light to everything you need to know about the Turkish GP.
On 24th of April 2026, the return of the Turkish GP was announced in a special event in Istanbul, home of the Turkish GP. In honour of the announcement, Red Bull made a show run in the streets of Istanbul on the same day and also in the circuit on the following day. The Japanese driver Yuki Tsunoda was in the wheel of Red Bull RB8, as he met with the welcoming Turkish fans later on. So, before the entire grid takes on to the track in 2027, let’s have a look at the history of the Turkish GP.
The Origins
Popularity of Formula 1 in Türkiye started rising in the 90s and the thoughts of hosting a Turkish GP became more and more appealing over the years. First realistic steps were taken, when the construction of Istanbul Park began in 2003 under the supervision of the famous engineer Hermann Tilke, who designed many famous tracks in his career. The 5.338 kilometer track of 14 corners was constructed in 1.5 years and Istanbul Park made its F1 debut in 2005. Kimi Räikkönen won the inaugural Turkish GP, followed by Renault’s Fernando Alonso in 2nd and his teammate Juan Pablo Montoya in 3rd place.
King of Istanbul Park
The Turkish GP has been held in two different periods before. First stint was during 2005-2011 and the last one was in the pandemic-affected years(2020-2021). However, in all the 9 races we’ve had in Türkiye, one name has a special place in Istanbul Park’s history: Felipe Massa. The Brazilian driver has the most Turkish GP victories with 3 and is the only driver to score consecutive pole positions and race wins in Istanbul Park. He took his first ever pole position in 2006 and converted it into his maiden Grand Prix victory. His success continued in the following 2 years and eventually he was given the nickname “King of Istanbul Park”. Massa is still the most successful driver in the Turkish GP history.
The Infamous Turn 8
Considering the terrain the circuit is built on, elevation changes and some blind corners already make Istanbul Park a challenging but fun track. However, most drivers remember one particular feature in the Turkish GPs: Turn 8. A turn so iconic, that it doesn’t need a specific name. Multiple apex points, changing high G-Force effect and tricky corner radius give drivers a unique left turn experience of 640 metres. “Turn 8 is a very special corner, especially the first part, which is the more difficult. The second part is flat out and easier. Turn 8 was different to what we were used to, and it made Istanbul Park very special!” claims the 3-time winner Felipe Massa and he also doesn’t forget to add a tip about the challenges of the infamous turn: “But you also have a little bump in the middle of the corner which means you can lose the rear of your car if you are too aggressive.”
The Future of the Turkish GP
According to the agreement made with Türkiye’s Ministry of Youth and Sports, Istanbul Park will host the Turkish GP for 5 years, starting in 2027. Latest rumour has it that Istanbul Park may also be included in feeder series and MotoGP calendars in the following seasons. This is most likely expected due to Toprak Razgatlioglu’s presence in MotoGP and Prema youngster Alp Aksoy’s promising feeder series progress.
In summary, from 2027 on, the Turkish GP will be held once more in Istanbul. With the much changed cars of the newest regulations, let’s see how the drivers will fare against the challenges of the returning Istanbul Park.
Article written by Emre Albas © Emre Albas 2026
