{"id":358896,"date":"2025-08-20T07:52:12","date_gmt":"2025-08-20T07:52:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/358896\/"},"modified":"2025-08-20T07:52:12","modified_gmt":"2025-08-20T07:52:12","slug":"toto-wolff-helmut-marko-voice-support-for-turkiye-gp-formula-1-return","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/358896\/","title":{"rendered":"Toto Wolff, Helmut Marko voice support for T\u00fcrkiye GP Formula 1 return"},"content":{"rendered":"

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff (L) and Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko (R), with the Turkish Grand Prix held in Istanbul, T\u00fcrkiye, in November 2020 in the background. (Photo collage by T\u00fcrkiye Today team)<\/p>\n

\n August 20, 2025 10:47 AM GMT+03:00\n <\/p>\n

\"Share\"\/<\/p>\n

Discussions over a possible return of the Formula 1 Grand Prix to T\u00fcrkiye<\/a> in 2026 or 2027 have already stirred excitement in the motorsport world, with Mercedes boss Toto Wolff and Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko voicing their support. Negotiations are currently ongoing for a long-term contract that would bring Istanbul Park back to the official race calendar. The track, operated by the Turkish Automobile Sports Federation (TOSFED)<\/a>, has been a unique fixture of the sport since its inauguration in 2005, best known for its demanding Turn 8.<\/p>\n

A track with history and atmosphere<\/p>\n

Though Istanbul Park fell off the calendar after 2011, it briefly returned during the pandemic, delivering memorable races for both fans and drivers.<\/p>\n

The venue witnessed moments such as Felipe Massa\u2019s first victory in 2006, the dramatic clash between Red Bull teammates Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber in 2010, and Lewis Hamilton\u2019s rain-soaked title-winning drive in 2020.<\/p>\n

\"Helmut
\n <\/p>\n

\n Helmut Marko (Oracle Red Bull Racing, Sporting Director), AUS, Formula 1 World Championship, Louis Vuitton Grand Prix of Australia, Albert Park Circuit Melbourne, Free Practice, 2025 season, March 14, 2025. (Photo via IMAGO\/Eibner)\n <\/p>\n

In an interview with Motorsport.com<\/a>, Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko recalled T\u00fcrkiye\u2019s past Grands Prix. He pointed to the infamous Vettel-Webber collision, as well as a wet race where Lance Stroll started from pole but later collided with Sergio Perez. \u201cSporting-wise, we did not have very bright memories, but the atmosphere and what Istanbul offered were truly unique,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Marko praises Istanbul\u2019s character<\/p>\n

Marko highlighted Istanbul\u2019s appeal beyond the circuit, noting that he always enjoyed staying along the Bosphorus. \u201cThe atmosphere there is incredible. The city center, the best shops and restaurants, is really magnificent,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

On the circuit itself, he said that for its time the facilities stood at the highest level in Europe, and the track was among the most physically challenging for drivers.<\/p>\n

\"Toto
\n <\/p>\n

\n Toto Wolff Team Principal of Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team looks on during the Qualifying Session ahead F1 Grand Prix of Monaco at Circuit de Monaco on May 24, 2025 in Monte-Carlo, Monaco. (Photo via Emmanuele Ciancaglini\/Ciancaphoto Studio)\n <\/p>\n

Wolff emphasizes T\u00fcrkiye\u2019s market<\/p>\n

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff also shared his perspective with Motorsport.com<\/a>, underlining both the racing legacy and T\u00fcrkiye\u2019s strategic importance. He remembered Lewis Hamilton\u2019s championship-sealing win in the rain as his most vivid T\u00fcrkiye memory.<\/p>\n

More importantly, Wolff stressed the country\u2019s significance for Mercedes. \u201cT\u00fcrkiye is a massive market for us. Not only for car sales but also in terms of car and truck production. That is why T\u00fcrkiye has always been a place we liked to go,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Istanbul Park still in contention<\/p>\n

Although the return of the Grand Prix has not yet been finalized, the comments from both Wolff and Marko indicate that Istanbul Park remains a strong candidate to rejoin the Formula 1 calendar.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

August 20, 2025 10:51 AM GMT+03:00<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff (L) and Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko (R), with the Turkish Grand Prix…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":358897,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4103],"tags":[4199,707,4200,79,16,15],"class_list":{"0":"post-358896","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-f1","8":"tag-f1","9":"tag-formula-1","10":"tag-formula1","11":"tag-sports","12":"tag-uk","13":"tag-united-kingdom"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/115060011617061116","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/358896","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=358896"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/358896\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/358897"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=358896"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=358896"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=358896"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}