F1's interest in India return growing: CEO Stefano Domenicali

Mumbai: Chief Executive Stefano Domenicali of Formula 1 said India was a priority market and signalled renewed intent to revive the Indian Grand Prix more than a decade after it last featured on the calendar.

The renewed interest springs from Adani Group’s acquisition of Jaiprakash Associates, which was earlier part of Jaypee Group, through an NCLT-approved insolvency resolution process that includes the Buddh International Circuit, built at a reported cost of $400 million.

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Momentum for a revival has also been building within Adani Group. In February, Karan Adani, managing director of Adani Ports & SEZ and son of billionaire Gautam Adani, said he was personally leading efforts to bring Formula 1 back to India, describing it as an opportunity to showcase the country beyond a sporting event.

“I’m personally driving it and personally engaged in bringing Formula 1 back to India,” Karan Adani had said. “It’s not just about hosting one race for three days but showcasing the heritage of India.”

“There is a big interest from us on returning to India,” Domenicali said in an interview with FanCode, Formula 1’s official streaming partner in India. “We need to find the right promoters, the right collaboration, and the right timing, which will not be in the very short term."

While no timeline has been set, Domenicali suggested Formula 1 was taking a longer-term view of a return to India. “When we talk about five years in Formula 1, it seems to be very far away, but it’s not,” he said, adding that interest in India was “growing at all levels.”

Domenicali said India remained central to Formula 1’s future growth plans, pointing to efforts around localised content and audience-building. “India is on our priority list to develop our attention for the future.”

“We were in India many years ago with the Grand Prix, but the market maturity was not there,” Domenicali added. “Now, we need to create the right attention, the right point of focus, the right awareness to eventually be able to come back and have a race there.”

Calling India “an incredible market” because of its scale and youthful audience, Domenicali said the country would become “an important market where we have to grow.”

Formula 1 exited India after 2013 because of tax disputes, high hosting costs and weak commercial viability. The sport was classified as entertainment rather than sport for taxation purposes, raising costs for organisers.

Jaypee Group, which built the Buddh circuit, also struggled to sustain annual hosting fees amid rising debt. Sponsorship revenues failed to scale sufficiently, while customs and logistics issues added operational complexity.

Formula 1’s India strategy has increasingly centred on digital engagement. The sport partnered with FanCode in 2024. According to Yannick Colaco, co-founder of FanCode, India’s Formula 1 fan base has grown nearly 63% over the past three years, increasing from 60 million to 98 million.

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“Our partnership with Formula 1 has delivered measurable results. Initiatives like watch parties and regional commentary have resonated deeply with fans, and we remain committed to both strengthening that engagement and introducing Formula 1 to entirely new audiences with more such initiatives," Colaco added.

The momentum around Formula 1 has also extended beyond racing. F1: The Movie emerged as the second highest grossing Hollywood film in India in 2025, earning more than Rs 100 crore at the box office.