Argentina is actively lobbying for a return to the F1 calendar. President Javier Milei sees plenty of opportunities to bring the premier class back to Buenos Aires. The historic Autodromo Oscar y Juan Galvez is currently undergoing extensive renovations ahead of the arrival of MotoGP in 2027, but Milei has the ambition to also attract Formula 1. The popularity of the sport in Argentina is also rising significantly, partly thanks to Alpine driver Franco Colapinto.
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Milei spoke on Monday at the FIA American Congress in the Argentine capital. He explained that he sees plenty of opportunities for a return of Formula 1 to Buenos Aires. “We have the tradition and we have the drivers,” he declared. “Now we are working on regaining the institutional credibility required for such a racing class. We have everything in house, now it’s time to go full throttle. Let’s move forward at full speed together to make this dream come true. We want to see Franco Colapinto back in Argentina,” he concluded emphatically.
Government leader Jorge Macri endorsed the Argentine ambition. “We are making the biggest investment in the history of the circuit,” he added. “We dream of the return of Formula 1. That is why we are completely transforming the Autodromo Oscar y Juan Galvez and the facilities, so that it meets all requirements and also becomes an icon of Buenos Aires on the world stage.”
The circuit is currently preparing for the arrival of MotoGP, with both the pit building and the track being extensively worked on. The layout is also being expanded, increasing the total length from 4.3 to 4.87 kilometers. The works, costing about 150 million dollars, are already in an advanced stage. The renewed circuit should be able to accommodate up to 150,000 visitors in the future.
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Busy F1 calendar
However, a return of Formula 1 to Buenos Aires is far from certain for now. Local authorities have been in talks since the 2024 Brazilian GP. This year as well, the Argentines sent a delegation to the Miami GP, but so far those visits have yielded nothing. Worldwide, there is high demand for a home Grand Prix, including in Asia and Africa. At the same time, the sport is more popular than ever in Argentina. Franco Colapinto drove some demonstration laps earlier this year in the capital in an old Alpine car. According to the organizers, half a million spectators showed up.
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 a Grand Prix in Buenos Aires was a regular fixture for Formula 1. Since the 1990s, however, the South American country has not played a significant role in the premier class.
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