Milei tells FIA he wants Formula 1 to return to Argentina
Argentina's president tells FIA authorities that he wants Formula 1 racing to return to the country as soon as possible. Leer más
President Javier Milei expressed his desire for Formula 1 to return to Argentina during a speech at the FIA American Congress in Buenos Aires. He recalled the immense local enthusiasm for motorsport, citing the last F1 Grand Prix in Argentina, which took place 28 years ago and featured packed grandstands. Milei emphasized Argentina's rich tradition of car enthusiasts and drivers, and stressed that the nation is regaining the institutional credibility needed to host top-tier racing categories.
Milei specifically mentioned Argentine racer Franco Colapinto, who competes for French team Alpine. The President expressed a keen interest in Colapinto returning to Argentina. The FIA has not yet responded to Milei's request.
Formula 1 currently has only two events on its calendar in Latin America: Mexico City and São Paulo. The Argentine passion for motorsport was evident during a massive street demonstration by Colapinto in Buenos Aires last April, which drew around 500,000 spectators according to organizers.
Argentina's appeal for motorsport has its roots in the country's legacy of legendary drivers such as Juan Manuel Fangio, a five-time F1 world champion, and Carlos Reutemann. Milei reinforced that Argentina possesses all the necessary conditions to once again host Formula 1 and the World Rally Championship.
The Oscar y Juan Gálvez circuit in Buenos Aires, which hosted 20 Formula 1 Grands Prix between 1953 and 1998, is currently undergoing a $100 million renovation plan. The project aims to increase spectator capacity to 150,000, redesign the track, pit garages, access routes, and safety features. Once completed, the track will feature a 4,900-meter circuit with 15 corners for Formula 1 races and a 4,300-meter course for potential MotoGP events.
Motorcycle racing in Argentina is set to return to the world calendar in 2027 after a 28-year hiatus.
Written by urgent.news from Buenos Aires Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
