London: Formula E is negotiating with three major Indian cities for a possible return of the race in 2026, according to top officials from the all-electric racing series who spoke with PTI on Friday.
The Hyderabad round was removed from the 2024 calendar following a change in the Telangana government, which took office last December and did not prioritize hosting a global motorsport event. For Formula E, this decision constituted a breach of their multi-year agreement.
However, Formula E remains committed to re-entering the Indian market, given its significance. With the calendar for the upcoming season already set, the focus is now on reinstating the race for the 2025-2026 season, which starts in December 2025.
“Unfortunately, due to the change in government in Telangana, we had to drop Hyderabad from the calendar. It was a fantastic race, and India remains a Tier 1 market for us. We are working diligently to return, and we are hopeful that we will be back in 2026,” Formula E co-founder Alberto Longo told PTI on Friday, ahead of the season-ending London E-Prix.
“We’re in discussions with three major cities in India, but I can’t disclose which ones at this stage. There is significant interest in Formula E in India.
“We’re focusing on the street race model, which is essential for promoting our sustainability message through electric racing. The Hyderabad event was remarkable; creating something from scratch is always a challenge. We hope to return soon with a street race format.”
The FIA World Championship event could potentially be hosted at the purpose-built facility in Greater Noida near Delhi, which previously hosted Formula 1 for three seasons from 2011 to 2013.
Formula E CEO Jeff Dodds shared Longo’s sentiment regarding the Indian market, saying, “We were truly disappointed when Hyderabad was dropped. India is a crucial market for us. We have Indian teams like Mahindra and Jaguar, and an Indian driver, Jehan Daruvala, participating in the series.”
“However, that has not dampened our enthusiasm for returning to India. While the calendar for next year has already been set and does not include India, I remain open to both street and fixed circuit options if it helps us get back to the country. We returned to China with a fixed circuit in Shanghai, and I’d love to see both street and fixed circuit races in China; the same applies to India,” Dodds said.
This year, Formula E made history with its first street race in Tokyo and marked a return to China. Despite these highlights, the absence of both India and South Africa after their debut in 2023 is a setback for the series.
“The trend of countries wanting to host Formula E is positive, not negative. We were thrilled to stage the first-ever race on the streets of Tokyo and to announce our return to China, a very important market for us,” Dodds continued.
“It’s much harder to introduce a new race than to return to an existing venue. That’s why there is a significant level of frustration within Formula E over what happened in Hyderabad. Organizing the inaugural event in Hyderabad was incredibly challenging, and we had hoped for a continued presence there. Unfortunately, political changes prevented us from returning,” Longo added.
