Buddh circuit hosts FIA level racing again after 13 years

FIA racing returns to Greater Noida after 13 years

The Buddh International Circuit hosted FIA level car racing again on October 31 and November 1, 2026, for the first time since the 2013 Indian Grand Prix. The weekend brought the Indian Racing League and the F4 Indian Championship to the 5.125 km track in Greater Noida as part of the Indian Racing Festival.

Drivers who raced that weekend came away impressed. Raoul Hyman of Goa Aces JA Racing, who won the opening Indian Racing League race, said the level of the circuit is as high as tracks that host Formula 1. F4 driver Ntiyiso Mabunda of Speed Demons Delhi called it a perfect track and said Formula 1 should make a comeback.

That comeback talk is not idle. Akhilesh Reddy, chairman of Racing Promotions Private Limited, which runs events at the circuit, told reporters at the weekend that Buddh is not far from F1 readiness again.

What it would take to bring F1 back

Reddy said only 30 to 40 per cent of the track needs to be revamped for Formula 1 to return, and that this is not a big deal.

He put a number on that work too. The upgrade would cost an estimated Rs 150 to 200 crore, work he said does not mean tearing down the circuit and rebuilding it.

The bigger number is what Formula 1 would then charge to come back. Reddy pointed to an annual hosting fee in the range of Rs 300 to 500 crore, the kind of figure that sank Buddh's first run as an F1 venue after just three editions between 2011 and 2013.

The circuit is now owned by the Adani Group, with RPPL organising race weekends on it. Reddy also flagged a separate problem for the sport in India: motorsport gets only 1 or 2 per cent of the government support that other sports receive, and has no dedicated category under the Khelo India scheme.

What's next for the Indian Racing Festival

Buddh is not done for this season. The Indian Racing Festival returns to the circuit for round 5 on November 28 and 29, before the season finale moves to the Navi Mumbai street circuit on December 5 and 6. RPPL has also talked about adding Bengaluru's Brains circuit and a venue at Nanoli to future calendars, while keeping Navi Mumbai on the calendar for at least three more years.

For now, Buddh's return to FIA level competition after 13 years is itself the story. Whether an F1 race actually follows depends on money that neither RPPL nor the sport in India currently has lined up, and on sign off from the FIA and Formula 1 itself.

Sources

• FIA level racing returns to Buddh International Circuit after 13 years
• Beyond Chequered Flag: Can Buddh International Circuit once again take India back into the global racing map?
• 13 years later, racing returns to Greater Noida
• Indian Racing Festival: FIA grade racing returns to Buddh after 13 years, can India sustain it?