Istanbul Park's iconic layout stays intact as Turkey overhauls F1 return

Istanbul Park will return to the Formula 1 calendar in 2026 with its celebrated layout unchanged, but the Turkish Grand Prix’s organisers are planning a sweeping overhaul of the circuit’s facilities and fan experience to meet the demands of the modern sport.

Eren Uclertopragi, president of the Turkish Automobile Federation (TOSFED), confirmed the scope of the changes in a sit-down interview ahead of the race’s return. “There will be major upgrades to the circuit,” he said. “We will modernize our circuit to the level F1 reaches right now. We are, of course, working on the infrastructural side. We will try to cover most of the grandstands and we will try to make fan zones to do whatever is necessary to give the best experience to the fans.”

The circuit, located on the Asian side of the Bosphorus, is widely regarded as one of the most technically demanding on any calendar — its multi-apex Turn 8 in particular has long been a favourite among drivers and purists. That corner, and the layout around it, will be left untouched.

Uclertopragi acknowledged the broader tension F1 faces in balancing its traditional venues against the newer, more commercially driven street circuits that have proliferated in recent years. “From a fans’ perspective, we are always more eager to watch the races in old-school tracks, so it’s good that F1 accepted our proposal and that we are back on track,” he said. “We all miss the old races, but at the end of the day, from the commercial side, we also need the races like Madrid. We need both, the modern street tracks and tracks like Istanbul, Monza and Silverstone.”

Istanbul sits at the intersection of Europe and Asia, giving it the global-city appeal F1 has sought in recent additions such as Miami, Las Vegas, and the forthcoming Madrid race. The difference, Uclertopragi argues, is that Istanbul can deliver that destination prestige without sacrificing the circuit quality that diehard fans demand.

The new contract runs for five years, and the TOSFED president was candid about the scale of the challenge ahead. Making Istanbul Park a fan favourite — not just a driver favourite — is the central ambition for that entire period, and the infrastructure investment is designed to close the gap between what the circuit offers on track and what spectators experience around it.