Turkish Grand Prix to Return to Formula 1 from 2027 Under Five-Year Agreement

Introduction

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced on April 24, 2025, that the Istanbul Park circuit will return to the Formula 1 calendar for a five-year period from 2027 to 2031, ending a six-year absence from the championship.

Main Body

The announcement was made at an event attended by Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali and FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem. Istanbul Park, a 5.33-kilometer circuit on the Asian side of Istanbul, has hosted nine Grands Prix in the past: seven consecutive races from 2005 to 2011, and two more during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021. The 2020 race was notable because Lewis Hamilton won his seventh world championship there, equaling Michael Schumacher''s record. Valtteri Bottas won the most recent race in 2021. In total, 12 drivers have stood on the podium at this circuit. The return follows a long campaign by Turkish authorities. In 2024, Can Bilim Egitim Kurumlari AS, a company partly owned by Lale Cander (who is also chairwoman of Pirelli''s Turkish branch), acquired a 30-year operating lease for Istanbul Park for approximately $117.8 million. The deal required securing a long-term Formula 1 agreement. Negotiations, carried out together with the Turkish Automobile Sports Federation (TOSFED), initially stalled but later resumed. In February 2025, Domenicali confirmed that a return was close. Erdogan stated that the agreement shows confidence in Turkey''s organizational ability and infrastructure. He noted that Formula 1 has a large following in Turkey, with about 19 million viewers and 7.5 million social media followers. Communications Director Burhanettin Duran described the deal as a success for Turkish sports diplomacy. Furthermore, the addition of the Turkish Grand Prix will not increase the 2027 calendar beyond 24 races. It replaces the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort, which is ending its run, and is part of a rotation system for the Spanish and Belgian Grands Prix. Portugal is also returning with a two-year deal.

Conclusion

The return of the Turkish Grand Prix confirms a long-term effort to bring Istanbul Park back to the Formula 1 schedule. The circuit will host races for at least five seasons starting in 2027.

Vocabulary Learning

carried out
To perform or conduct a task, activity, or process.執行、進行(任務、活動或過程)
Example:Negotiations, carried out together with the Turkish Automobile Sports Federation, initially stalled but later resumed.
ending its run
An idiomatic expression meaning to finish a period of activity, performance, or operation.結束其運行/運作期
Example:It replaces the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort, which is ending its run.
resumed
To start again after a pause or interruption.重新開始、恢復
Example:Negotiations, carried out together with the Turkish Automobile Sports Federation, initially stalled but later resumed.
stalled
To stop making progress or become stuck, often temporarily.停滯、陷入僵局
Example:Negotiations, carried out together with the Turkish Automobile Sports Federation, initially stalled but later resumed.
stood on the podium
An idiomatic expression meaning to finish in the top three of a race or competition, thus being awarded a podium position.登上領獎台(獲得前三名)
Example:In total, 12 drivers have stood on the podium at this circuit.

Sentence Learning

The announcement was made at an event attended by Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali and FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem.
Passive voice: the subject 'announcement' receives the action. The agent (who made it) is introduced with 'by'. This structure is common in formal reporting to focus on the event rather than the doer.被動語態:主語「公告」接受動作。動作執行者以「by」引出。此結構常用於正式報導,強調事件本身而非執行者。
In 2024, Can Bilim Egitim Kurumlari AS, a company partly owned by Lale Cander (who is also chairwoman of Pirelli's Turkish branch), acquired a 30-year operating lease for Istanbul Park for approximately $117.8 million.
Relative clause 'who' gives extra information about Lale Cander. The passive participle 'owned' describes the company. This helps pack details into one sentence without starting a new one.關係從句「who」補充說明Lale Cander的身份。被動分詞「owned」描述公司狀況。這樣可將細節融入一句,無需另起新句。
Negotiations, carried out together with the Turkish Automobile Sports Federation (TOSFED), initially stalled but later resumed.
Past participle phrase 'carried out' acts as a reduced passive relative clause (which were carried out). The linking word 'but' shows contrast between stalling and resuming. This structure keeps the sentence concise while showing a change.過去分詞短語「carried out」相當於被動關係從句(which were carried out)。連接詞「but」表示停滯與恢復之間的對比。此結構使句子簡潔,同時顯示變化。
It replaces the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort, which is ending its run, and is part of a rotation system for the Spanish and Belgian Grands Prix.
Relative clause 'which is ending its run' describes the Dutch Grand Prix. The conjunction 'and' connects two facts about the Turkish Grand Prix. This organizes information clearly by linking related ideas.關係從句「which is ending its run」描述荷蘭大獎賽。連詞「and」連接關於土耳其大獎賽的兩個事實。這樣清晰組織信息,連結相關概念。
Furthermore, the addition of the Turkish Grand Prix will not increase the 2027 calendar beyond 24 races.
The linking word 'Furthermore' adds extra information logically, showing that this point supports the previous discussion. It helps the reader follow the argument step by step.連接詞「Furthermore」在邏輯上補充額外信息,顯示此點支持前文討論。它有助於讀者逐步理解論述。