The race starts on October 6, 2013, at the Korean Grand Prix in Yeongam, South Korea. The city of Incheon, South Korea, has expressed interest in hosting a street Grand Prix and sent a letter of intent to Formula 1. This proposal aims to establish a new F1 venue, following the previous Korean Grand Prix at the Yeongam circuit from 2010 to 2013. Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok of Incheon personally delivered the letter of intent to F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali during the Japanese Grand Prix in Suzuka. The proposed event, called the Incheon F1 Grand Prix, is set to take place in 2026 or 2027.
Mayor Jeong-bok believes that Incheon is the ideal location to host the F1 due to its excellent transportation network, including Incheon Airport and Incheon Port, as well as its abundance of luxury accommodations. Large-scale discussions will now begin to explore the possibility of hosting the Incheon F1 Grand Prix. The concept of city-based F1 races has gained popularity in recent years, as demonstrated by the decision to move the Spanish Grand Prix to Madrid in 2026, under a 10-year agreement. This move was motivated by the proximity of the circuit based at the IFEMA Exhibition Center to Madrid International Airport and metro transportation links, making it a convenient and sustainable location for fans. Incheon’s proposal is similar to these city-based models.
Other cities, such as Osaka, have also expressed their interest in hosting F1 races. Osaka quietly announced in January its desire to compete for the Japanese Grand Prix alongside Suzuka. However, Suzuka’s contract extension until 2029 solidified its position in F1. If South Korea’s proposal is successful and the Incheon F1 Grand Prix is included in the 2026 or 2027 calendar, it could reach the maximum limit of 25 Grand Prix races set by the current Concorde Agreement, which will remain in effect until the 2030 season. Although a new agreement is expected to be reached by the end of this year, it is unlikely that the limit will be changed.
Currently, the F1 calendar consists of a record 24 races, but there are several venues with contracts expiring in the coming seasons. Spa, Monaco, Mexico City, Zandvoort, Monza, Imola, Las Vegas, and Shanghai have contracts until the end of 2025, while Baku, Circuit of the Americas, and Barcelona have contracts until 2026. With Barcelona’s uncertain future, South Korea may have the opportunity to replace it as the host city of an F1 race.
