Argentina will continue lobbying for a spot on the F1 calendar during the upcoming Miami GP, with capital Buenos Aires as the backdrop for a modern Argentine Grand Prix. After nearly three decades without an F1 race, the South American country seems determined to make a comeback, fueled in part by the growing popularity of the sport and the rise of driver Franco Colapinto.
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The iconic Autódromo of Buenos Aires is currently undergoing a large-scale redevelopment, aimed at the return of MotoGP from 2027. However, ambitions go further: adjustments to the layout and infrastructure are also being considered so that the circuit can eventually meet the highest requirements of Formula 1. A delegation from Buenos Aires will travel to the Miami GP in May to enter into discussions with rights holder Liberty Media.
“We meet all the requirements they set for us,” assured Fabian Turnes, sports secretary of Buenos Aires, to Motorsport.com. “Our first meeting with them took place a year ago in Miami. Since then, significant progress has been made, and it is important that we have actually taken the steps we promised. We can now show something concrete: the circuit is under construction. It is no longer just an ambition; on the contrary.”
Overcrowded calendar
The ambitions are further strengthened by the growing national interest in the sport, partly thanks to Franco Colapinto, who secured a permanent seat at Alpine this year. However, Argentine officials realize that a return is not a given, considering the global demand for a private Grand Prix and the overcrowded F1 calendar. Still, they see opportunities in the medium term. “We know that several contracts on the current calendar are expiring,” Turnes explained. “If an opportunity arises, we want to be ready.” He emphasized that it would be ‘regrettable’ if Argentina were to inherit a spot because, for example, the war in the Middle East continues, but that such scenarios are being taken into account.
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According to Turnes, it will be tight to organize a Grand Prix as early as 2027, but Formula 1 could potentially return to Buenos Aires in 2028. “In Miami, we must be able to demonstrate that we have made progress. The homologation to meet all FIA requirements has already been requested.” In April, Colapinto will already give an F1 demonstration on the streets of the capital. The public reaction will be an important indicator for the future of the sport in Argentina.
The country has a rich history in motorsport. In the 1950s, five-time world champion Juan Manuel Fangio became one of the greatest drivers of all time, and the Autódromo Oscar y Juan Gálvez in Buenos Aires was a fixture for Formula 1. However, since the 1990s, the South American country has no longer played a significant role in the premier class.
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