What Does India Lack to Get Back Formula 1 and MotoGP?

Picture courtesy: Aditya Addanki from pexels.com

Bengaluru, India, September 23, 2026: Joshua Dürksen recently became the first Paraguayan to test a Formula 1 car for Mercedes. It is a significant milestone for the South American country and one that could well kindle greater interest in motorsport among its people.

The development also makes me wonder: what is it that India lacks for its drivers to make it to the top echelons of motorsport: Formula 1, MotoGP and the top tier of World Rally Championship.

India has hosted Formula 1 races, in 2011, 2012 and 2013. But with the Jaypee Group running into financial difficulties, the country has not hosted a Grand Prix for more than a decade. The same Buddh International Circuit hosted a round of MotoGP in 2023, but that, too, proved to be a one-off.

Formula 1’s departure from India was also linked to taxation issues, with the sport being classified as entertainment rather than sport. It was a decision that attracted considerable criticism at the time.

It is worth pondering why India, now the world’s fourth-largest economy, has been unable to consistently host major international motorsport events.

The Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India (FMSCI), too, needs to push for such events, not necessarily for commercial gain, but because they can play an important role in the growth and development of motorsport in the country.

Those at the helm of the sport need to recognise that their responsibility extends beyond merely occupying positions on the FMSCI council. The ASN can only do so much, of course. Formula 1 and MotoGP require promoters with the financial resources and commercial capability to stage such events. But there is still much that the FMSCI can do to create the ecosystem and facilitate their return.

It is no secret that motorsport has a substantial following in India. The challenge is to convert that interest into a stronger sporting culture, better opportunities for young drivers and, ultimately, success at the international level.

Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya has expressed interest in bringing major international motorsport events back to India. There have also been reports that the Adani Group has begun the process of taking control of the Buddh International Circuit.

If countries such as Azerbaijan can successfully host Formula 1, there is no obvious reason why India should not be able to do so.

Perhaps the bigger question is not whether India has the resources, but whether it has the will and the right people to make it happen.

Let’s hope for the best.