The Adani Group is looking to bring back F1 to India after Government showed its intention to get the grand prix, ahead of their Olympics bid.
After the Sports Ministry floated a chat in an informal gathering about bringing F1 back in India, Adani Group’s Karan Adani – son of Gautam – has backed the idea and lent its support in the desire. One of the leading multinational business conglomerates has the resources to support the venture.
The group has grown hugely in a short span of time not just in India, but outside the country off-late. The company’s involvement comes as no surprise, considering that they are the Government’s go-to company for many of the businesses across sectors.
Government’s visit to Buddh circuit
The Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Mansukh Mandaviya, has visited the Buddh International Circuit in Greater Noida in Uttar Pradesh, to oversee the arrangements. The F1 track needs renovation work – whether the tarmac and or the buildings – which is used, but not extensively.
Apart from trackdays, shooting adverts/movies and various other events, the Buddh circuit hosts national races at times. On international front, it has hosted the MotoGP race back in 2023, with the intention to bring back the premier two-wheel event as well at the circuit.
F1 last raced in India in 2013, when the sport ran under Bernie Ecclestone. Despite the five-year deal, tax and bureaucracy derailed the project eventually. The Jaypee Group – circuit owner and promoter of Indian GP – started to incur losses and haven’t regained its mojo.
Adani has resources and backing
The Adani Group has the means to takeover the company/circuit and bring F1 to India. In fact, it is in the process of buying the parent company of Jaypee, i.e, Jaiprakash Associates. For long, fans have urged companies like Reliance and Tata Group to make investment in motor racing.
Tata’s brands like TCS and Jaguar are already involved in Formula E heavily. India will be fighting for a spot on a growing F1 calendar, which is currently is in talks with Turkey and Thailand. Liberty Media has never shied away from capturing new markets and India remains a key market at any given time.
Show country’s heritage
F1 recently announced a deal between Barcelona and Spa-Francorchamps to alternate hosting, which could pave way for new or old venues back on the calendar. “I’m very excited, obviously the Buddh circuit comes (as) part of the deal,” said Adani Jr in a meet in Delhi. “I’m very personally engaged in terms of bringing Formula 1 back into India. I think India has a lot of potential.
“There’s a lot of following in Formula 1 from India. I do believe that India can really showcase how a Formula 1 circuit or how a Formula 1…I would say the whole sport can be brought in and can be a benchmark for a global event.
“There is a lot of potential for our country to demonstrate what we can do not just in terms of infrastructure but the hospitality, how do we expose our culture to the global stage. I think this is something that we would like to…that’s what my vision is that when we bring Formula 1 in India, that’s what we need to expose to…it is not just about doing one race for three days, but is basically how do you showcase the heritage of India.”
Olympics in mind
It is unclear when they are aiming to get the race back in India, with one eye on Olympics bid for 2036. One of the key reasons for the current F1 talk is likely down to showing the global stage that the country is capable of hosting a world championship event of high magnitude. While some suggestions is there for 2027, but it seems unlikely that they can be ready or find a place on the calendar next year.
