Formula E is actively engaging with three major cities in India for a potential return of the all-electric racing series in 2026, top officials informed PTI on Friday.
The Hyderabad round was excluded from the 2024 calendar following a change in government in Telangana. The new administration, which assumed office in December, did not prioritize hosting a global motorsport event, leading to what Formula E officials described as a breach of the multi-year agreement.
Despite this setback, India remains a crucial market for Formula E, and the organization is committed to making a comeback. With the calendar for the upcoming season already set, the focus is now on reinstating the race for the season starting in December 2025.
“Unfortunately, due to the change of government in Telangana, we had to leave Hyderabad. It was a fantastic race. India is a Tier 1 market for us. We are working on a daily basis to try to be back there. Hopefully, it will happen in 2026,” Formula E co-founder Alberto Longo stated ahead of the season-ending London E-Prix.
Longo revealed that discussions are underway with three major cities in India, although he did not disclose their names. “We are talking to big cities, and hopefully, we can be back in the short term. We need to focus on the street race. The Hyderabad event was amazing. We built something from scratch, and that is always challenging,” he added.
Formula E favors the street race model to promote sustainability through electric racing. However, the race could also take place at the purpose-built facility in Greater Noida near Delhi, which hosted Formula 1 races from 2011 to 2013.
Formula E CEO Jeff Dodds echoed Longo’s sentiments regarding the importance of the Indian market. “We were gutted honestly (when Hyderabad was dropped). India is a key market for us. We have Indian teams with Mahindra and Jaguar and an Indian driver (Jehan Daruvala). However, that has not dampened our spirits of getting another race in India,” Dodds said.
Dodds expressed openness to both street and fixed circuit races, highlighting the recent fixed circuit race in Shanghai, China, as an example. “I am completely open to a street race in India, but I would not discount a fixed circuit race if that enables us to get back to the country,” he noted.
Formula E’s season 10 saw the first-ever street race in Tokyo and a return to China, which were among the highlights. However, the absence of races in India and South Africa, following their debuts in 2023, posed challenges for the series.
“The trend is positive (of countries wanting to organize Formula E), far from negative. We happily staged the first-ever race in history on the streets of Tokyo. We also announced our way back to China, which is a very important market for us,” Longo said. He expressed frustration over the situation in Hyderabad, emphasizing the challenges of organizing a new event and the ease of returning to established venues.
The discussions with Indian cities signal Formula E’s determination to re-establish its presence in the country. Leveraging the growing interest in sustainable motorsport and the significant market potential in India.
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