(Motorsport-Total.com) – What does a new venue have to do to have a chance at one of the coveted spots? With the calendar currently fixed at 24 races, but interest continuing to rise, it seems harder than ever to secure a place in Formula 1.
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The popularity of the racing series has led to a flood of inquiries from potential host cities, countries, and governments, some of which are more credible than others.
However, politicians who prematurely announce a Grand Prix as a done deal are unlikely to impress the racing series.
If anything, this suggests that a deal might not be a good idea – for example, if the potential host underestimates the scope and long-term sustainability of organizing an event in the Liberty Media era, or if Formula 1 is merely misused as a tool for domestic political profiling.
Comments from Indian officials that the series would return in 2027 were completely new to Formula 1 management and were promptly denied; similarly fanciful claims regularly come from South Africa.
A return of Formula 1 to Argentina also does not seem to be on the cards in the foreseeable future, as Buenos Aires is initially trying to successfully host MotoGP at the renovated Autodromo Oscar y Juan Galvez.
While there is a new wave of interest in the highly indebted country thanks to the arrival of national hero Franco Colapinto, given there’s no guarantee that the Alpine driver will even be on the grid in 2026 when Argentina is ready for a race, the mere presence of a local driver alone cannot be a solid foundation for a Grand Prix.
What Formula 1 management really wants to see from a new market is a financially sustainable plan that instills confidence to sign a long-term contract.
Increasingly Long-Term Contracts
It is no coincidence that Formula 1 has moved to extremely long-term contracts in key markets in recent years, with the majority of the calendar secured until at least 2032. The popular event at the Red Bull Ring in Austria has even been extended until 2041, while Melbourne, Madrid, Bahrain, and Montreal all remain on the calendar for at least another decade.
It’s a win-win situation that provides a publicly traded company like Liberty Media with more stability and guaranteed revenue, but also helps local promoters and governments amortize significant infrastructure investments over a longer period.
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It is a tough demand for an organizer to agree to the construction of a brand-new paddock complex without the guarantee that it will be used more than just a few times.
“One of the relevant points is not a peak value for a single year,” says Formula 1 boss Stefano Domenicali to the global edition of Motorsport.com when asked about new markets. “It’s about how we can have the certainty that there is a multi-year vision when we go to a new place, and that it must be a relevant market.”
“We cannot go to a place where they might have a fantastic peak year, and what is the business plan the year after? What does the fanbase look like? What is the commercial status that gives us confidence that a stay of five or ten years is secured? We need to see that proof.”
Why Long-Term Contracts Make Sense
Formula 1’s commercial rights holder states that it continues to encounter significant interest from potential promoters worldwide; with a hard limit of 24 races, it remains a seller’s market.
This means that Formula 1 can not only demand high entry fees but also enforce its other goals in the areas of mobility, hospitality, entertainment, and sustainability.
“There is a lot of interest from other regions, but we are quite well positioned with partners who trust us with a long-term investment, which we consider good,” Domenicali adds.
“Something I always said on investor calls when they asked me why I sign such long-term contracts: Firstly, I do it because we believe in this market. But secondly, because we can ask the promoter to invest. If you had a three-year agreement, how could you push the promoter to invest?”
“In the coming years, Miami, for example, will build a new hospitality area. We are pushing Australia to build a new paddock and new facilities next year because we are extending the contract long-term. It’s the same for Hungary and Austin,” says the Italian.
The example of Budapest is relevant because it has naturally been more difficult to secure these long-term investments in Europe than in petro-states or other emerging markets.
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What are Europe and Asia doing?
The number of races on the old continent came under pressure, with Barcelona and Belgium set to rotate, and the organizers of the Dutch Grand Prix realized that a contract extension beyond 2026 posed too great a financial risk.
However, Formula 1 was able to extend some of its European cornerstones in Silverstone, Monza, and Monaco. In addition, shorter-term deals, such as with Portugal – which has signed for 2027 and 2028 to take Zandvoort’s place – provide some flexibility to further fill the 24-race calendar until some of these long-term events become a reality.
Contract Durations of Current Formula 1 Tracks
Potential promoters who seem to have approached it correctly so far are Thailand and South Korea, who have drawn up plans for street races in Bangkok and Incheon, respectively.
Although neither country is immediately close to a deal – in Thailand, recent political upheavals are delaying matters – both have presented solid-looking plans that involve significant investment, whether public or private.
Incheon’s plans also depend on the outcome of the upcoming mayoral elections, which further illustrates how difficult it can be for Formula 1 to find the right window for a contract.
No Further Races Planned in the USA
However, while expansion in the USA remains a core goal for Formula 1 and much depends on the new TV deal with Apple, Domenicali has rejected ideas of adding even more races in the country – despite interest from cities like New York, Chicago, and San Francisco.
Formula 1 may be keen to expand its presence in the Far East when the opportunity arises, but in North America, it already hosts five races: Miami, Montreal, Austin, Mexico, and Las Vegas.
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“I think there is great interest from other places in the USA that continues to grow,” says Domenicali, noting that an expansion would realistically only be possible if one of the existing races were to be dropped.
Of the North American races, Mexico’s recently extended contract is the first to expire – in 2028 – although local authorities would like to work on a further extension.
“We have to be careful. Of course, we could consider it if we no longer have Mexico in the future or if other things happen in that region of the world. By the way, they want to extend. But even more [races] now would not be balanced, in my opinion.”
More Sensible Combinations Possible
Building long-term relationships also gives F1 more leeway to further optimize the calendar geographically while pursuing its ambitious CO2 targets. A long-held wish that it has now realized is the swap of Canada and Monaco, so that the former can be combined with Miami to avoid additional cargo flights across the Atlantic.
However, the two-week break between the two races still means that personnel have to make this extra trip, suggesting that the goal of making travel more sustainable is focused more on logistics than on human resources.
Adding factors such as local climate, public and religious holidays, and the need for a winter and summer break, it becomes clear why assembling a 24-race calendar is such a complex puzzle.
Geographical neighbors are also keen to separate their races in time to avoid direct competition for the same customer base.
Race Tracks Where Formula 1 Could Race
Domenicali believes that Formula 1’s current calendar has now found the right balance between commercial and logistical requirements, which often pull in different directions.
“I think we have already made a big step in optimizing the calendar, even if we have to consider that not only the logistical flow must be respected, but also the commercial side of each event,” he said.
“Logistically, one could say, put the four races in the Middle East one after another and the American ones too, but commercially that wouldn’t fit. Therefore, I think we have already made a big step forward in terms of balance this year by having Canada after the USA.”
“And therefore, I think the calendar is well-positioned logistically, taking into account commercial constraints.”
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