Uzbekistan Steps Closer to Hosting Formula 1

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev met the delegation from the International Automobile Federation (FIA) on December 9 as Uzbekistan signalled its ambition to become a future host for Formula 1. The delegation was led by FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem, who arrived in Tashkent for the organisation’s General Assembly.

The group also included FIA Senate president Carmelo Sanz de Barros and Tim Sharman, the federation’s deputy president for mobility and tourism. The talks focused on strengthening cooperation with the global body that governs motorsport and promotes road safety worldwide.

Ben Sulayem praised the wide-ranging reforms under way in Uzbekistan, saying they support the growth of both professional and grassroots sport and encourage a healthier and more active population. During the meeting both sides agreed on the need to expand work across all forms of motorsport in the country from karting to single-seater racing.

A key part of the discussions centred on developing domestic talent. The FIA will support training for Uzbek drivers, karting athletes, engineers, designers and mechanics through the resources of the FIA University. Uzbekistan is also looking to create modern motorsport infrastructure that meets international standards.

Most notably, the sides addressed the prospect of staging FIA-sanctioned events in Uzbekistan including, in the long term, Formula 1 races. Building suitable facilities and a strong motorsport ecosystem is seen as part of the pathway to making the country a candidate for future F1 calendars.

At the end of the meeting President Mirziyoyev awarded Ben Sulayem the state Order of Friendship in recognition of his contribution to the development of motorsport cooperation and the promotion of international standards in Uzbekistan.