Argentina is making a serious push to return to the Formula 1 calendar, with work already underway at the Buenos Aires Autodrome. While the country will be absent from the 2026 MotoGP schedule after Termas de Rio Hondo was dropped, the focus has now shifted to the future, and especially to bringing Formula 1 back after almost three decades.

The circuit in Buenos Aires is currently being redeveloped, with plans to host MotoGP from 2027. However, the project has been designed with a bigger goal in mind. City officials want the track to also meet Formula 1 standards, and discussions are already taking place about extending the layout to suit the demands of the series. Mayor Jorge Macri made that clear, saying: “We are working on modernising the racetrack not only to host MotoGP, but also, in the future, Formula 1.” He also stressed the wider impact of such events, pointing out that they bring investment and jobs to the city.

At the same time, efforts to return to Formula 1 are moving forward off the track as well. A delegation from Buenos Aires will attend the Miami Grand Prix to meet with Liberty Media, which holds the commercial rights to F1. The aim is to present the progress made so far and show that the project is no longer just an idea. “We can now show something tangible: the circuit is under construction,” said sports secretary Fabian Turnes. “It is no longer just an ambition.”

The redevelopment itself is planned in phases. The first step is to prepare the circuit for MotoGP, but a second phase would bring further changes needed for Formula 1, including extending the track to nearly five kilometres. There are even discussions about bringing some of that work forward, so officials can arrive in Miami with a clearer and more complete vision of the final circuit.

Argentina is also being helped by growing interest in Formula 1 at home, especially thanks to Franco Colapinto. The young driver’s rise has increased excitement around the sport, and plans are in place for him to take part in a demonstration run on the streets of Buenos Aires. If Formula 1 does return, it would give local fans the chance to see one of their own racing at home, something that could further strengthen the country’s case.

Argentina is aware that getting back onto the Formula 1 calendar will not be easy, but there is cautious optimism. Some current race contracts are coming to an end, and the calendar has already seen changes in recent years. “We know that several contracts on the current Formula 1 calendar are coming to an end,” Turnes explained. “If a window opens, we want to be ready.” For now, a return in 2027 may be ambitious, with 2028 seen as a more realistic target.