Argentina Makes a Comeback Bid for F1 Calendar After a Massive Rise in Popularity

According to TheIndependent.co.uk, the Argentine government is considering hosting another Grand Prix Formula One (F1) after Franco Colapinto's debut sparked a massive surge in popularity for the sport in the South American country.

Franco Colapinto, a 21-year-old Argentine driver, replaced Logan Sargeant at Williams after the Dutch Grand Prix in August and secured his first point with an eighth-place finish at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku. This achievement made him the first Argentine driver to score points since Carlos Reutemann in 1982.

However, despite his promising performance, Colapinto's chances of staying with the team in 2025 appear limited. The Williams team has confirmed Carlos Sainz as Albon's teammate, indicating that Colapinto might not get a spot. James Vowles, the boss of Williams, has discussed the possibility of negotiations with Sauber (Audi) regarding the second vacant seat.

As a result of Colapinto's performance, F1's popularity in Argentina skyrocketed in the past month. Many Argentinians have started exploring the possibility of attending the upcoming Brazilian Grand Prix, given that the last Argentine Grand Prix was held in 1998 in Buenos Aires. Currently, the Interlagos circuit in Brazil is the only track in South America hosting the F1.

Argentina's Tourism, Environment, and Sports Minister, Daniel Scioli, told a local media outlet, La Agencia de Viajes, that he has spoken with President Javier Milei and the president's secretary of state, Karina Milei, to coordinate efforts to bring F1 back to Argentina.

Scioli will also attend the Brazilian Grand Prix in Sao Paulo next month to start discussions with F1 officials about the potential return of Argentina to the calendar. However, given the schedule for next year, which already has 24 confirmed races, it's likely that Argentina won't be back until at least 2026.

But even that target seems ambitious, considering the current condition of the Autódromo Oscar Alfredo Gálvez, the circuit that last hosted the Argentine Grand Prix is in a state of disrepair and needs significant investments to be restored to Grade 1 FIA status, which is required to host an F1 race.

Meanwhile, F1 is exploring opportunities to organize races in Rwanda, Thailand, and South Korea, amidst a global boom. Starting in 2026, Madrid will host the Spanish Grand Prix on a street circuit, while the future of F1 in Barcelona remains uncertain.

Seven venues have a contract with F1 that will expire after 2025, including Belgium, Monaco, Italy (Monza), Mexico, Imola, the Netherlands, and China.