Organisers of Formula 1’s revived Turkish Grand Prix say they want to maintain their spot beyond its current one-off 2020 event.
Turkey joined Formula 1’s schedule in 2005 but it dropped off the roster after the 2011 season.
The coronavirus pandemic has prompted an overhaul of Formula 1’s calendar and Turkey’s Istanbul Park is one of several circuits to either join or return to the schedule.
Istanbul Park is due to hold the 14 of 17 rounds in mid-November, welcoming Formula 1 back to the circuit after a nine-year absence.
But the promoter is hopeful that Istanbul’s return can be turned into a prolonged second stint on the calendar.
“We were actually in talks for a long-term contract to be signed in 2021, but it’s difficult for a country to be added without another leaving,” Vural Ak, chairman of the Intercity company that runs the venue, is quoted by Reuters. “The pandemic changed this.
“Once the operation is completed without problems, both sides are willing to turn this into a long-term contract.”
Istanbul Park is one of a handful of venues that were not originally supposed to feature on the 2020 schedule.
Mugello will make its Formula 1 debut next weekend while Nurburgring and Imola will return after a prolonged absence of seven and 14 years respectively.
Meanwhile Bahrain’s Outer Circuit will be used for the first time under the Sakhir Grand Prix title in December, a week after the country’s official grand prix on the regular layout.
