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Jenson Button backs a Formula 1 return to India, calling the Buddh circuit “awesome” and its exit “a real shame”, but a comeback remains complicated.
Red Bull-Renault driver Sebastian Vettel of Germany (C) is doused with champagne by McLaren-Mercedes driver Jenson Button of Britain (R) and Ferrari driver Fernando Alonso of Spain (L) after winning the Formula One Indian Grand Prix in Greater Noida on October 30, 2011. (AFP)
There’s been plenty of noise around Formula 1 potentially returning to India.
Timelines like 2027 have been floated, though they feel optimistic at best. Still, the conversation refuses to die.
And now, a former world champion has weighed in.
Jenson Button is firmly in favour of seeing F1 back in India. And his reasons are simple: he’s been there, raced there, and remembers it fondly.
“The Track Was Awesome”
India hosted just three Grand Prix between 2011 and 2013, all dominated by Sebastian Vettel during his peak Red Bull Racing years.
For Button, the debut race in 2011 still stands out. He shared the podium with Vettel and Fernando Alonso, finishing second in what felt like a landmark moment for Indian motorsport.
Looking back, he didn’t hold back.
“I think I finished second in one of the years,” Button recalled, according to Sports stars. “The track itself that I drove on was awesome. It was fast, it was flowing, it was a real shame when it was cancelled. Because I really enjoyed it.”
“It was one of the really interesting new tracks on the calendar. I really enjoyed my time there. So it would be great to see it back on the calendar for sure.”
Why It Disappeared
The race, held at the Buddh International Circuit, started with promise. Big crowds, strong interest, and a growing motorsport base. But it didn’t last.
Tax disputes, bureaucratic hurdles, and logistical issues ultimately forced F1 out after 2013, and it hasn’t returned since.
Why A Quick Comeback Is Not Feasible
As much as Button and many fans would like a comeback, the road isn’t straightforward.
F1’s current calendar is already packed with 24 races under Liberty Media, leaving little room for new venues. Add to that the steep hosting costs, estimated between ₹180 crore and ₹560 crore annually, and the challenge becomes clearer.
There’s also the issue of long-term deals with existing circuits, meaning any new addition requires careful reshuffling.
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