Formula 1 is at a crossroads. As the sport continues its global expansion, a quiet but fierce battle is being waged for its very soul. On one side are the dazzling new street circuits, promising glitz, glamour, and access to untapped markets. On the other are the classic, purpose-built racetracks, the hallowed grounds where legends were forged and the true spirit of racing resides. Now, two of these fallen giants, Turkey’s Istanbul Park and Portugal’s Portimao, are clawing their way back, and their potential return in 2027 could signal a pivotal shift in the future of the sport.

The current Formula 1 calendar is a behemoth, a globe-trotting spectacle of 24 races that pushes teams and drivers to their limits. While the sport’s commercial rights holder, Liberty Media, is keen to explore new territories, there’s a growing sense that the calendar has reached its saturation point. This has created a high-stakes game of musical chairs, where for every new venue that joins the party, an existing one must be shown the door.

Enter Turkey and Portugal, two nations with a rich motorsport heritage and tracks that are universally adored by drivers and fans alike. Istanbul Park, with its infamous Turn 8, is a masterpiece of modern circuit design, a rollercoaster of a track that challenges even the most seasoned of drivers. Portimao, with its dramatic elevation changes and sweeping corners, is a pure, unadulterated racing circuit that produces thrilling, unpredictable races.

Both tracks made a brief, but memorable, return to the F1 calendar during the pandemic-disrupted seasons of 2020 and 2021, and their presence was a breath of fresh air. The races were action-packed, the drivers were effusive in their praise, and the fans were reminded of what they had been missing. Now, with the pandemic in the rearview mirror, both Turkey and Portugal are determined to secure a permanent place on the F1 calendar.

The driving force behind Turkey’s bid is a passionate and well-funded consortium that has the full backing of the Turkish government. They are not interested in a one-off, replacement race; they want a long-term deal that will see the Turkish Grand Prix become a staple of the F1 season. Similarly, in Portugal, the government has thrown its weight behind the bid to bring F1 back to the Algarve, recognizing the immense economic and promotional benefits that the sport can bring.

But the road back to Formula 1 is paved with obstacles. The biggest hurdle, as always, is money. The hosting fees for an F1 race are astronomical, with some venues reportedly paying as much as $70 million for the privilege. While both Turkey and Portugal have secured the necessary funding, they are competing in a global marketplace where new and emerging economies are willing to pay a premium to join the F1 club.

The rise of Africa and Asia as potential F1 destinations poses a significant threat to the European heartland of the sport. Countries like Rwanda and Thailand are making serious overtures to Liberty Media, and their bids are backed by substantial government investment. The allure of new, untapped markets is a powerful one, and it’s a challenge that the traditional European circuits must take seriously.

This is where the battle for F1’s soul truly begins. On one hand, you have the commercial imperative to expand the sport’s global footprint and maximize revenue. On the other, you have the desire to preserve the integrity and heritage of the sport by racing on tracks that are designed to produce the best possible racing.

The drivers, to their credit, have been vocal in their support for the classic circuits. They relish the challenge of tracks like Istanbul Park and Portimao, and they are not shy about expressing their preference for purpose-built racetracks over the often-processional street circuits. The fans, too, have made their voices heard, with a growing chorus of support for a return to the tracks that have produced some of the most memorable moments in the sport’s history.

The question for Liberty Media is whether they will listen to the drivers and the fans, or whether they will be swayed by the lure of big-money deals in new and exotic locations. The decision will have far-reaching consequences for the future of the sport.

If Turkey and Portugal are successful in their bids, it will be a victory for the purists, a sign that the sport has not forgotten its roots. It will also send a clear message to the other classic circuits on the calendar that their place is not guaranteed. The Spanish Grand Prix at Catalunia, for example, is already under threat from the new Madrid street race, and the iconic Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps has been forced to share its spot on the calendar with other races.

Even the jewel in F1’s crown, the Monaco Grand Prix, is not immune to the winds of change. The race has become a shadow of its former self, a glamorous procession that is often devoid of any real racing excitement. If a track with the history and prestige of Monaco is struggling to justify its place on the calendar, then no circuit is safe.

The battle for the future of the Formula 1 calendar is a complex one, with a multitude of factors at play. But at its heart, it is a simple question: what kind of sport does Formula 1 want to be? Does it want to be a global entertainment brand, a traveling circus that follows the money to the highest bidder? Or does it want to be a pure, unadulterated sport, a test of skill and courage on the world’s greatest racetracks?

The return of Turkey and Portugal would be a step in the right direction, a sign that the sport has not lost its way. It would be a victory for the drivers, the fans, and for the very soul of Formula 1. The next few years will be crucial in determining the future direction of the sport, and the fate of these two iconic tracks will be a key indicator of which path Formula 1 will choose.