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President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is set to attend the Formula 1 Türkiye Grand Prix Launch Program at the Presidential Dolmabahce Working Office, where the formal details of F1's return to Türkiye are expected to be made public.
The event marks a significant step in Türkiye's effort to reassert its position on the global sports stage.
The launch will officially announce F1's long-term return to Türkiye, following the completion of the Istanbul Park tender process in 2024 and the commitment to bring F1 back to Istanbul in 2026.
Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali is also expected to attend and discuss F1's global reach and the new partnership with Türkiye.
The program is set to address the multibillion-dollar added value the races are projected to generate for the Turkish economy and tourism sector, alongside the contribution the event series is expected to make to Istanbul's brand value.
The new agreement, set to start in 2026 and last several years, will be presented as part of Türkiye's broader goals in sports and public diplomacy.
Plans to upgrade Istanbul Park, renew social facilities, and launch 'green event' projects in line with F1's sustainability goals will also be shared.
The Ministry of Youth and Sports is overseeing the process. After the program, officials are expected to announce Türkiye's spot on the F1 calendar and how long the agreement will last.
Adding to the Dolmabahce announcement, details emerged that Red Bull Racing driver Yuki Tsunoda is set to perform a demonstration run in a Formula 1 car on the streets of Istanbul.
The run is planned to take place in the heart of the city, along the Bosphorus, bringing the sound and spectacle of F1 into one of Istanbul's most historic settings.
Istanbul Park first welcomed Formula 1 in 2005, when Finnish driver Kimi Raikkonen claimed victory for McLaren-Mercedes ahead of Fernando Alonso and Juan Pablo Montoya.
The circuit, designed by German engineer Hermann Tilke and carved into the hills on the Asian side of the city, was immediately recognized as one of the most technically demanding venues on the calendar.
Juan Pablo Montoya set the outright lap record that year with a time of 1:24.770, a mark that still stands.
The years that followed belonged to Brazilian driver Felipe Massa. Racing for Ferrari, Massa won three consecutive Turkish Grand Prix titles between 2006 and 2008, a record that remains unmatched at the circuit.
His victories came in dominant fashion, and the Istanbul Park grandstands became a regular backdrop for Ferrari celebrations.
The 2010 race delivered one of the most discussed incidents in F1 history, when Red Bull Racing teammates Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber collided at Turn 11 while fighting for the lead.
Vettel's race ended on the spot with a puncture. Webber continued with front wing damage and finished third.
Formula 1 returned to Istanbul Park in 2020 after a nine-year absence, brought back as a replacement venue during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The track had been resurfaced only days before race weekend, leaving a surface drivers described as exceptionally slippery.
Lewis Hamilton, starting sixth, navigated the difficult conditions to win the race and secure his seventh world championship title, equaling Michael Schumacher's all-time record.
The 2021 race, won by Valtteri Bottas, proved the 2020 return was no anomaly. Istanbul Park had demonstrated once again that it could produce racing of the highest order.
The case for Istanbul Park's permanent return rests on market size, location and infrastructure.
Türkiye's 85 million population, annual car sales exceeding one million and the circuit's Grade 1 FIA license and 125,000-spectator capacity give the venue strong commercial foundations.
Officials have pointed to a potential September race date running back-to-back with the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku as a logistical advantage, while the proposed five-year deal is designed to secure a stable position within F1's new rotational calendar system.
Turkish Formula 1 fans have stayed active on social media since the last race at Istanbul Park, regularly calling for the sport's return on F1's official platforms.
This strong fan interest began during the circuit's early years and has lasted even without races.
Both Turkish and F1 officials recognize this unique regional support as a key reason for bringing the race back.
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