Today is the day fans, drivers, and engineers have been waiting for for years: Formula 1 has officially confirmed that the Turkish Grand Prix will become a permanent fixture on the race calendar from 2027. The contract between Intercity Istanbul Park and the FIA runs for five years – guaranteeing its place until 2031. For an entire generation of motorsport fans, this is more than just a calendar update. It's the return of one of the most technically demanding tracks in recent F1 history.
Here you'll find everything you need to know about the return of Istanbul Park: the history, the famous Curve 8, the political background of the deal, and why this return is far more than a nostalgia trip.
The facts about the comeback
• First race after the comeback: 2027 season
• Contract duration: 5 years (until 2031)
• Route: Intercity Istanbul Park (formerly Istanbul Otodrom / Istanbul Park)
• Possible due to: Rotation of Spa-Francorchamps and Barcelona in the calendar
• Status: Officially approved by the FIA and Liberty Media
The deal is the result of months of negotiations between the Turkish Automobile Federation (TOSFED), investors from Istanbul, and the Formula One Group. The rotation with Spa and Barcelona is an elegant way for Liberty Media to maintain the calendar at 24 races while simultaneously winning back new markets.
The route: 5.338 kilometers of Tilke's masterpiece
Istanbul Park opened in 2005 and belongs to the second generation of modern Grand Prix circuits designed by German architect Hermann Tilke. While many of Tilke's creations have a reputation for being too tame and sterile, Istanbul Park is considered by drivers and fans to be the absolute exception. At the very first race in 2005, Fernando Alonso praised the circuit as "one of the best new tracks I have ever driven on."
• Route length: 5.338 kilometers
• Curves: 14 (8 left, 6 right)
• Direction of travel: counter-clockwise (rare in F1)
• Elevation difference: approximately 40 meters
• F1 lap record: 1:24.770 (Juan Pablo Montoya, McLaren, 2005)
• Location: Tuzla, Asian side of Istanbul – approximately 35 km from the city center
Istanbul Park is coming to AP10 Studios.
We're preparing Istanbul Park as a 3D-printed frame – Made in Germany, with millimeter precision, a true elevation profile, and the legendary Curve 8. Until then, we'll produce Istanbul Park as a custom order upon request. Our Tilke collection (Bahrain, Abu Dhabi, Austin, Miami, Shanghai, Jeddah) is already available in our shop – combinable using our Bundle Builder. Over 15,000 customers and partners already trust us.
Buy Istanbul racetrack posters →
Curve 8: Perhaps the most famous curve of the 2000s
When you think of Istanbul, you think of Turn 8. The long, four-apical left-hander is the track's iconic landmark. Around 640 meters long, it's taken at near-flat speed in Formula 1. Drivers experience lateral forces of up to 5 g – longer than, according to Red Bull analysts, for almost any other corner on the calendar. For drivers, it's not just a corner; it's a discipline.
Jenson Button once compared Turn 8 to Eau Rouge at Spa – except that it takes about 20 seconds longer. In fact, the physical strain is so high that the drivers' neck muscles had to be specially prepared for Istanbul. The legendary moment: in 2011, Nico Rosberg and Sebastian Vettel almost simultaneously suffered left front tire blowouts in Turn 8 – the corner was the biggest tire killer of the weekend.
The fact that Turn 8 will be back on the F1 calendar in 2027 is the real reason for joy for many fans and drivers. There is simply no comparable section on any modern racetrack.
The story: from promising talent to rotation candidate
The first era: 2005–2011
Turkey was one of the first new motorsport markets to which Bernie Ecclestone brought Formula 1 in the early 2000s. Istanbul Park was inaugurated in 2005 with the first Turkish Grand Prix, won by Kimi Räikkönen in a McLaren. The following years were largely dominated by Ferrari – Felipe Massa won three times in a row in 2006, 2007, and 2008.
The 2009 edition was the last triple-header for eventual world champion Jenson Button. In 2010, Lewis Hamilton won in his McLaren – his first Istanbul victory. 2011 saw Sebastian Vettel's third win of the season, which would also be the last Istanbul race of the first F1 era.
The second era: 2020–2021
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Istanbul Park returned in 2020 as a replacement for cancelled races in Canada and the USA. The 2020 race went down in history: in torrential rain on a freshly resurfaced, extremely slippery track, Lewis Hamilton celebrated his seventh world championship title with a commanding victory. One more race followed in 2021 – then Istanbul disappeared from the calendar once again.
The return in 2027: finally a regular race
Unlike the 2020 and 2021 appearances, the current deal is not a one-off. The five-year contract makes Istanbul a permanent fixture on the calendar. Spa and Barcelona will rotate – one race per year at one of the two circuits, with Istanbul as the third link in the European rotation system.
Why the return makes strategic sense
Under Liberty Media, Formula 1 is pursuing a clear strategy: more races in high-growth markets, less reliance on purely European dates. With over 85 million inhabitants, Turkey is a significant market – and the combination of its geographical proximity to Europe, strong motorsport tradition (especially in motorcycle racing), and its role as a cultural bridge between East and West makes Istanbul the obvious choice.
In addition, there's the economic aspect: Istanbul Park was acquired by the Intercity Group in 2022 and has since been modernized with multi-million euro investments. New grandstands, expanded paddock areas, and modernized safety systems have been added. The track is FIA Grade 1 certified – the highest standard a racetrack can achieve.
Hamilton, Istanbul and the future
If any driver is synonymous with Istanbul Park, it's Lewis Hamilton. His two victories there (2010 and 2020) remain unchallenged in the drivers' championship. His rain-soaked win in 2020, which secured his seventh world title, is one of his most frequently cited career moments. For Hamilton to compete in Istanbul again in 2027 – possibly in his final F1 season – would be a fitting finale.
Max Verstappen has also won in Istanbul: in 2021, at the second race held during the pandemic, he secured a dominant victory, laying the foundation for his first World Championship title. The track is therefore already steeped in history between Hamilton and Verstappen – and 2027 will see the next chapter added.
What fans should plan now
• Ticket sales: expected to start in autumn 2026 – early bird prices are always worthwhile
• Getting there: Direct flights to Istanbul (IST or SAW), then approximately 45 minutes to the route to Tuzla.
• Accommodation: Istanbul is a metropolis – plenty of hotels, Airbnbs and boutique hotels in Kadıköy will be bookable from summer 2026.
• Tip: Combine the weekend with a 2-3 day city break in Istanbul – one of the most unusual Grand Prix cities in the world.
• Weather: Istanbul can be unpredictable in autumn; rain races like in 2020 are always possible.
The three curves you need to keep an eye on in 2027
Curve 1 (Entrance)
The start/finish straight leads into a fast right-hand bend, which immediately becomes the first overtaking opportunity. At Istanbul Park, the race that dominates the weekend is often decided within the first 500 meters.
Curve 8 (the classic)
The four-apex link bend, arguably the most spectacular corner in modern F1. If you're planning on getting a viewing position in a grandstand – it's worth the extra cost.
Curve 12–13 (hill and valley combination)
The middle section of the track features a downhill rhythm that looks extremely impressive on the onboard camera. Turn 12 is a frequent overtaking point in the afternoon sun.
Istanbul Park and the AP10 Studios Collection
Istanbul Park isn't currently a permanent part of our racetrack collection – but that's about to change. With its comeback confirmed for 2027, we're preparing to add the track to our standard collection. Until then: If you'd like to have Istanbul Park as a 3D-printed frame on your wall, we'll custom-make it for you – Made in Germany, with millimeter precision, and featuring a true elevation profile, including the 640-meter-long Turn 8.
For those already collecting Tilke circuits: In our range you'll find Bahrain, Abu Dhabi, Austin, Miami, Shanghai, and Jeddah. All designed by the same architect as Istanbul. Combine three or more in the Bundle Builder and save – a Tilke triptych that illustrates the evolution of modern racetracks from 2004 (Bahrain) to 2023 (Las Vegas).
Conclusion: A good year for motorsport fans
2027 will be one of the most interesting years in recent F1 history. New regulations, new engines, new track rotation. Istanbul Park is back on the calendar – and with it, one of the last true driver circuits where tire wear, neck strength, and track knowledge are more important than aerodynamic flips on the simulator. We're incredibly excited.
Until 2027, we'll keep you up to date on all the important developments surrounding Istanbul Park, the F1 calendar, and the track collections. Over 15,000 customers and partners already trust us – join us for the next chapter.
Istanbul Park is coming to AP10 Studios.
We're preparing Istanbul Park as a 3D-printed frame – Made in Germany, with millimeter precision, a true elevation profile, and the legendary Curve 8. Until then, we'll produce Istanbul Park as a custom order upon request. Our Tilke collection (Bahrain, Abu Dhabi, Austin, Miami, Shanghai, Jeddah) is already available in our shop – combinable using our Bundle Builder. Over 15,000 customers and partners already trust us.
