Turkey F1 return for 2020 highly unlikely despite talks

The prospects of Turkey's Istanbul Park holding a round of this year's Formula 1 championship are highly unlikely, according to GPFans sources.

Rumours have recently circulated that the circuit that held a grand prix from 2005 to 2011, and is now run by a rental car firm, Intercity, was in line to fill a gap in the calendar.

Circuit bosses have even gone so far as to issue a statement on its social media channels on Wednesday declaring they are "in talks" and that it cannot share further details "due to our confidentiality agreement with Formula 1 management".

While GPFans can confirm discussions have taken place, track officials only recently initiated them and it is understood they have come too late to progress.

In addition, with the calendar booked with races through to the end of October, and with a trio of Middle-Eastern grand prix to take place in Bahrain and Abu Dhabi in early to mid-December, the only available dates are now in November.

It is believed the dip in the weather that occurs in Istanbul at that time of year precludes it from staging a race, while the fact it no longer holds an FIA licence is another stumbling block.

As previously mentioned on this site, it is understood that F1 is keen for Vietnam to stage its debut street race after it was postponed from April this year, with the hope it can form a Far East double-header with Malaysia in the middle of November.

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