FAN-FAVOURITE TRACK SECURES 2027 F1 RETURN TO TURKISH GP SIGNS NEW DEAL

The Turkish Grand Prix will return to the F1 calendar next year.

Turkey last hosted F1 in 2021

The Turkish Grand Prix will return to the Formula 1 calendar in 2027 after agreeing a major new deal.

The race will be held at the popular Istanbul Park near Tuzla, which last held races during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021. It will be the first race of a fresh five-year agreement for Turkey to host grands prix.

Turkey first staged an F1 race in 2005 and was a regular fixture on the calendar until 2012 when it was dropped after no deal could be reached. While attendances were often poor, the Istanbul track provided good races.

The 2010 edition was particularly memorable, with Red Bull pair Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber wiping each other out and paving the way for an epic battle between the McLaren's of Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button.

In 2020, Hamilton sealed a record-equalling seventh world championship at the Turkish Grand Prix by winning the race. Valtteri Bottas took victory for Mercedes the last time Turkey staged an F1 race in 2021.

Turkey will effectively be a replacement for the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix, which will be held for the last time this year, with a new race in Madrid taking over as the home of the Spanish Grand Prix.

F1 president and CEO Stefano Domenicali said: “We are delighted to be returning to the incredible and vibrant city of Istanbul from 2027 to thrill all our fans in Türkiye and around the world on one of the most exciting and challenging circuits in Formula 1.

“As a city, Istanbul represents a cultural gateway between Europe and Asia, offering a unique blend of history and tradition with a forward-thinking approach to sport, business, and entertainment.

“I want to thank His Excellency President Mr. Erdoğan, the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, and the Turkish Automobile Sports Federation for their support in securing Formula 1’s return.

“Many memorable moments have been made in our sport’s history at Istanbul Park and I’m excited to begin the next chapter of our partnership, giving fans the opportunity to experience even more incredible racing in a truly fantastic location.”

FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem added: “Formula 1’s return to Türkiye is a powerful reflection of the continued global growth and appeal of our sport, and I am delighted to see the Turkish Grand Prix rejoin the FIA Formula One World Championship calendar.

"Istanbul Park is a circuit that holds a special place in Formula 1 history, and its return underlines our shared commitment to expanding the championship in dynamic markets.”

- Lewis Larkam

TWINS FROM KENYA WON TOGETHER IN ISTANBUL

Kenyan TWIN brothers Alex Matata and Charles Matata won the Istanbul Half Marathon 2026 together after running the whole race side by side 🇰🇪

They finished together at the same time, sharing the win 

Alex, the defending champion, won the race in 60:01, but his brother Charles was right there with him.

#Athletics #Kenya #IstanbulHalfMarathon #Running #Champions #dhktv #champions

TURKISH CLUB FENERBHCE ANNOUNCE JOSÉ MOURINHO AS MANAGER

Mourinho was at Wembley on Saturday for the Champions League final. Richard Sellers/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images

 Former Real Madrid boss José Mourinho will be unveiled as the new coach of Turkish Super Lig team Fenerbahce later on Sunday, the club said.

Following days of strong indications that Mourinho was to take charge, the Istanbul club said in a post on X early on Sunday that the Portuguese manager was to attend a ceremony at their Sukru Saracoglu ground.

"Saracoglu is waiting for its new coach Jose Mourinho and its great fans at 19.00!," the post reads.

On Saturday night, Fenerbahce posted a video message from Mourinho, 61, in which he told Fenerbahce fans he would "see you tomorrow in Kadikoy and let's start our journey together."

It's Mourinho's first job since he left Roma in January after two and a half years marked by winning the Europa Conference League in 2022 and a series of disputes with referees.

The Portuguese has not worked outside of the top five European leagues since 2004, when he left Porto after winning the Champions League and joined Chelsea, which was on the rise under then-owner Roman Abramovich.

Since then he has also coached Inter Milan, Madrid, Manchester United and Tottenham in a career filled with trophies and off-field controversy.

Fenerbahce finished second to fierce rival Galatasaray in the Turkish league this season and clashed with the Turkish soccer authorities, including by taking its team off the field in the Turkish Super Cup game in protest.

- Associated Press 

UEFA PICKS BUDAPEST TO HOST 2026 CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINAL BUT DELAYS 2027 DECISION ON SAN SIRO

AP

 DUBLIN (AP) — UEFA picked Budapest on Wednesday to host the men’s Champions League final in 2026 and delayed giving the 2027 game to Milan amid uncertainty over the future of San Siro.

The Puskás Arena and San Siro were the only two candidates for the two finals scheduled to be awarded. The next final on June 1 is at Wembley Stadium in London and Bayern Munich’s home will host next year.

The iconic San Siro, formally known as Stadio Giuseppe Meazza and owned by the city of Milan, has been under long-term threat of demolition. Its shared tenants AC Milan and Inter Milan have looked for new homes they can own.

UEFA put off a decision until a September meeting of its executive committee subject to the Italian soccer federation “submitting information on refurbishment plans” for San Siro.

Earlier Wednesday, uncertainly increased in Milan as ownership of Inter switched from Chinese corporation Suning to United States investors Oaktree because of failure to repay debts.

The 75,000-seat San Siro still could host the European Cup or Champions League final for the fifth time, one year after staging the opening ceremony of the 2026 Winter Olympics.

The 70,000-seat Puskás Arena opened five years ago and has been a go-to venue for UEFA, hosting a Europa League final last year and replacement games during the COVID-19 pandemic. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is a big fan of soccer and billionaire banker Sándor Csányi is a FIFA vice president representing UEFA.

UEFA’s executive committee also sent the Women’s Champions League final in 2026 to Oslo, Norway.

Istanbul will host the 2026 Europa League final in the downtown stadium of Besiktas and the 2027 game is going to Eintracht Frankfurt’s home. The 2025 Europa final is in Athletic Bilbao’s stadium, which also hosts the Women’s Champions League final next week.

The third-tier Conference League final in 2026 will also go to Germany, in Leipzig, and in 2027 to Istanbul, potentially also at the Besiktas stadium though that could change.

The Turkish soccer federation said it hopes the 2027 final can move to the new stadium being built in the capital Ankara ahead of the country co-hosting the men's European Championship with Italy in 2032.

Turkey gets to host European finals in back-to-back years while the Romanian national stadium in Bucharest, which last hosted a Europa League final in 2012, lost in votes to bring that title match back.

The Israeli soccer federation had originally entered the Conference League bidding contest last year proposing Teddy Stadium in Jerusalem.

In other UEFA executive committee business ahead of the Europa League final, trials of safe standing areas for fans at European club competition games was extended next season to Austria, Belgium, Netherlands, Portugal and Scotland.

The UEFA-recognized Football Supporters Europe group has run a “Europe Wants to Stand” campaign and welcomed the new additions to consent for trials over the last two seasons in England, France and Germany. Also on the permitted list are Italy and Spain.

“Standing at matches positively contributes to the atmosphere of games enormously, is a significant element of fan culture across the continent, and helps to lower the pricing for these games generally," FSE executive director Ronan Evain said in a statement.

- GRAHAM DUNBAR

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINAL | ISTANBUL 2023

 

TURKISH GRAND PRIX CIRCUIT | ISTANBUL PARK

 

TOUCHDOWN IN ISTANBUL | MESUT OZIL

TAIFA STARS: TIMU YA TAIFA KUINGIA UTURUKI JUMAPILI

Taifa Stars itaondoka Jumapilikwenda Uturuki kujiandaa na michuano ya awali ya kufuzu ya AFCON 2017...Timu haitosimama Muscat na itaenda moja kwa moja Istanbul kuweka kambi ya siku 8...Huko Istanbul watacheza na Libya na Kuwait chini ya kocha Charles Boniface Mkwasa...Taifa Stars wanatarajiwa kukutana na Nigeria Septemba 5...Bofya hapa upatebahari zaidi.