Formula 1 Turkish Grand Prix

The Formula 1 Turkish Grand Prix is back on the calendar in 2027 after a six-year gap. Formula 1 has signed a five-year agreement with Türkiye's Ministry of Youth and Sports, with the Turkish Automobile Sports Federation (TOSFED) delivering the event, and formula1.com lists the 2027 race as Round 17, from Friday 1 to Sunday 3 October 2027.

It's a conventional weekend: formula1.com shows Practice 1 and 2 on Friday, Practice 3 and Qualifying on Saturday and the Grand Prix on Sunday. Session times for 2027 are still TBC.

Istanbul Park is a permanent circuit in the Tuzla district on the Asian side of the city, about an hour's drive east of central Istanbul according to formula1.com. The 5.338 km anti-clockwise lap is cut into the hills, with big changes in elevation and 14 corners. Its best-known corner is Turn 8, a fast, long downhill left-hand bend; formula1.com picks the grandstand on its outside as the best place to watch, with the stand at the entry to Turn 12 as the pick for overtaking. The circuit hosted nine Grands Prix between 2005 and 2021.

As a trip, the race is a reason to spend a long weekend in Istanbul, but plan your base around the journey. The circuit is about 15–20 km from Sabiha Gökçen International Airport (SAW) and about 80 km from Istanbul Airport (IST), according to the official F1 ticket store, and Formula 1 says full access and transport details will be confirmed closer to the event. Tickets aren't on sale yet; there's an official waitlist.

• Turn 8: a long left-hand bend with four turning points, taken at close to full throttle, and formula1.com's pick for the best grandstand view.
• Turn 12: the end of the long back straight and, according to formula1.com, the best bet for overtakes.
• A hillside circuit: the 5.338 km anti-clockwise lap has dramatic elevation changes, with Turn 1 dropping sharply away.
• F1's return to Türkiye: the first race at Istanbul Park since 2021, with the venue confirmed on the calendar until 2031.
• Istanbul: a city spanning Europe and Asia, with the historic peninsula on the European shore and Kadıköy on the Asian shore.

• The Asian side: the circuit is in Tuzla, on the Asian side, so staying on this side of the Bosphorus keeps you off the bridges and tunnels on race days. Kadıköy is the best-known neighbourhood here.
• Near Sabiha Gökçen Airport: the airport is about 15–20 km from the circuit, according to the official F1 ticket store, which makes the areas around it convenient if you arrive on a late flight.
• The European side: the European shore is home to the Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, Topkapı Palace and the Grand Bazaar, but it's the furthest from the circuit, so allow plenty of time if you stay there.

No official accommodation or shuttle packages have been published for 2027. Pick your base once Formula 1 confirms how spectators will reach the circuit.

From the UK: Istanbul has two international airports. Sabiha Gökçen International Airport (SAW), on the Asian side, is about 15–20 km from the circuit and has direct connections from many European cities, according to the official F1 ticket store. Istanbul Airport (IST), on the European side, serves a wider range of international destinations but is about 80 km from the circuit. Check airlines for current routes from the UK.

Entry: British citizens can visit Turkey without a visa for up to 90 days in any 180-day period, according to GOV.UK. Your passport must have an expiry date at least 150 days after the date you arrive, and at least 1 blank page.

On race days: 2027 transport details haven't been published. Formula 1 says full access and transport details will be confirmed closer to the event, so don't book a base on the assumption of shuttles until they're announced. formula1.com describes the circuit as around an hour's drive east of Istanbul.

For the city, see our Istanbul guide, or our Turkey guide for the country.

Flight delayed or cancelled on the way? See our Travel Disruption guide for your rights.

Official tickets are sold through the F1 ticket store on formula1.com. On 29 October 2026 it showed a waitlist for grandstand and general admission tickets, with a separate waitlist for hospitality; joining gives access to pre-sale tickets before they're released to the public. No on-sale date or prices had been published.

The ticket page says tickets for guests with reduced mobility will be sold through the official event link.

Formula 1 says genuine tickets are available only from formula1.com, race promoters and appointed agents, and warns about fraudulent websites, emails, texts and social media messages. Be wary of anyone selling 2027 tickets before official sales open.

Wait for the transport plan: the circuit is a long way from the historic centre, and Formula 1 hasn't yet confirmed how spectators will get there. Check the official ticket page before you choose where to stay.

Choose your airport carefully: Sabiha Gökçen (SAW) is on the same side of the city as the circuit; Istanbul Airport (IST) is about 80 km away.

Passport validity: Turkey requires at least 150 days left on your passport from the day you arrive, which is stricter than many countries.

Noise: F1 cars are loud, so ear protection is sensible, especially for children.

Bag rules and opening times: nothing has been published for 2027; check the official ticket page nearer the race.

No accessibility information for spectators has been published yet. The official F1 ticket page says tickets for guests with reduced mobility can be bought through the official event link once sales open. For questions, use the customer service contact on the official ticket page.

The FCDO advises against all travel to within 10 km of Turkey's border with Syria; Istanbul is far outside that area. It also says terrorists are likely to try to carry out attacks in Turkey, that most attacks have happened in the south-east, Ankara and Istanbul, and that large public gatherings, including major events, could be targeted. Stay aware of your surroundings and follow local authorities' advice.

The FCDO reports regular demonstrations in Istanbul and other cities, which can turn violent; avoid them. Its Turkey page also carries the regional tensions warning about possible flight cancellations and airspace closures across the Middle East.

• Before you go, read the UK government's FCDO travel advice for Turkey (entry requirements, safety and local laws).
• Flight delayed or cancelled on the way? See our Travel Disruption guide for your rights and live alerts.