FIA president hints at possible early return for F1 Turkish Grand Prix in 2026. Ben Sulayem suggests Istanbul could replace Qatar on 2026 F1 calendar.

In recent days, Formula 1 officially announced the return of the Turkish Grand Prix, one of the most popular events among fans thanks to the spectacular layout of the Istanbul circuit. The agreement will run for five years, from 2027 until 2031, but there is already growing speculation that the race could appear even earlier by joining the current Formula 1 world championship calendar as a replacement for one of the Grands Prix currently under threat due to the geopolitical situation in Iran and across the Middle East.

Formula 1 had already been forced to cancel the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix scheduled for April. If the conflict involving Iran were to continue throughout the season, the sport could also be forced to cancel the races in Abu Dhabi and Qatar, while there are increasing concerns over the possibility of travelling to Baku as well, given that the Azerbaijani capital is located roughly 250 kilometres from the border.

Liberty Media is naturally monitoring developments very closely while also keeping a contingency plan ready, together with a deadline by which a final decision on racing in the Middle East would need to be made. In the meantime, the possibility of Turkey returning to the Formula 1 calendar earlier than expected has received an important endorsement from FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem.

Mohammed Ben Sulayem comments on possible Turkish GP return

“Regarding Qatar, we could postpone the event by one week. Otherwise, perhaps we could have Turkey this year, if the circuit manages to complete the homologation process and meet all the remaining requirements,” the Emirati official said during the Miami Grand Prix weekend.

“We are in discussions with the promoters, but there is an issue that is far more important than motorsport itself. Sport can wait, people must always come first. We hope the war ends soon so that life can return to normal and we no longer have to live with all this stress,” he added.

“If the situation continues into October or November, then we would not be able to go to those countries, because safety comes before everything else.”

This potential shift in the schedule highlights the ongoing challenges of managing a global sporting calendar amidst regional instability. As fans await a final decision, the possibility of racing at Istanbul Park once again offers a silver lining for the 2026 season championship battle.