Argentina gp return plan evolves as Buenos Aires pushes to convince Liberty Media
The City of Buenos Aires is taking decisive and concrete steps to bring Formula 1 back to the Autódromo Oscar y Juan Gálvez after a 28-year absence from the Formula 1 calendar.
The key solution involves removing the current karting circuit located inside the 180-hectare complex. This move will free up the necessary space to design a completely new layout suitable for modern Formula 1 standards and FIA requirements.
New circuit layout designed for Formula 1 and MotoGP
The redesigned circuit is expected to feature a total length of approximately 4,900 metres, with 15 corners split between 9 right-handers and 6 left-handers. The track will vary in width, reaching 18 metres on the main straight and around 12 metres throughout the rest of the lap.
Performance projections suggest top speeds of up to 340 km/h, with an average speed of around 225 km/h and a predicted lap time close to 1 minute and 18 seconds. One of the most notable additions will be a new horseshoe-shaped corner with a 10-degree banking angle, designed to enhance overtaking opportunities and racing spectacle.
In parallel, the circuit will also host the return of the MotoGP World Championship in 2027, marking another major milestone after nearly three decades away. For motorcycle racing, a shorter 4,300-metre layout will be used, featuring long straights between 800 and 1,000 metres, allowing speeds in excess of 300 km/h.
To extend the circuit toward the main entrance area near the historic arch, an existing grandstand in the old corner section will be demolished. These extensive upgrades are aimed at securing FIA Grade 1 homologation, which is mandatory to host Formula 1 and other top-tier international motorsport events.
Construction progress and infrastructure development
Active construction work is already underway across multiple areas of the venue. Asphalt testing has been completed in the “Bajada del Tobogán Juan María Traverso” section as well as in the new area behind the pit complex.
Construction has also begun on the new pit building, which will include 32 garages measuring 7 metres each, alongside technical facilities and a race control tower. The planned covered surface area is at least 12,047 square metres, plus an additional 6,214 square metres of uncovered space.
The first floor of the pit complex is scheduled for completion in time for MotoGP usage between 2027 and 2030. For Formula 1, a second level will be added to meet the sport’s more demanding operational requirements.
The project is being developed by the Buenos Aires Sports Secretariat in cooperation with Tilke Engineering, led by Hermann Tilke and Carsten Tilke. In mid-May 2025, Christian Epp, Tilke’s head of operations for the Americas, visited the construction site and expressed strong enthusiasm for the progress, highlighting the growing momentum of motorsport in Argentina, boosted further by the presence of Franco Colapinto in Formula 1.
International negotiations and calendar challenges
Monthly progress reports are being sent to Formula One Management (FOM). The total estimated investment for the project is around 100 million dollars.
Despite the significant infrastructure progress, commercial agreements still need to be finalised. A key meeting scheduled in Miami on May 3 was postponed due to ongoing analysis of the 2026 and 2027 Formula 1 calendars by FOM and the FIA, complicated further by geopolitical tensions in the Middle East affecting races in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Abu Dhabi.
The current Formula 1 calendar already includes 24 Grands Prix and six events in the Americas. To accommodate Argentina, a slot would need to be freed. Main competing candidates include Thailand, which is reportedly offering up to 100 million dollars annually, as well as South Africa and Rwanda. Turkey and Portugal are also expected to return in 2027. A potential Argentine Grand Prix comeback is therefore considered more realistic from 2028 onwards, possibly scheduled in November around the Brazilian Grand Prix.
Economic impact and long-term outlook
The standard cost of hosting a Formula 1 Grand Prix is estimated at around 40 million dollars for a five-year contract, rising up to 60 million dollars in some cases such as Saudi Arabia. In Argentina, the investment model is expected to be public-private, with strong hopes of attracting private sponsors due to the growing popularity of Franco Colapinto, demonstrated by crowds of 500,000 to 600,000 people at his demonstration events.
The redesigned circuit is expected to accommodate up to 120,000 spectators. The projected economic impact is significant. As an example, the mayor of São Paulo has stated that the Brazilian Grand Prix generates approximately 500 million dollars annually through tourism, hotels, restaurants and more than 10,000 jobs.
Both Formula One Management and Liberty Media are believed to support the idea of returning to Argentina, driven by the country’s passionate fanbase and the rising profile of Franco Colapinto. Several teams also retain positive memories of previous races in the country, with one historic team reportedly sending a representative to assess logistics and hospitality options, identifying Puerto Madero as an ideal operational base.
Buenos Aires has taken a major step forward with the restructuring of the venue and rapid construction progress. While the infrastructure is advancing quickly thanks to cooperation with Tilke Engineering, the return of Formula 1 will still depend on final calendar negotiations and financial agreements. In the meantime, the return of MotoGP in 2027 is seen as a crucial intermediate step toward the ultimate goal of bringing Formula 1 back to Argentina.
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