Argentine government exploring potential F1 bid after 26 years

The Argentine government is exploring the possibility of once again hosting a grand prix, with a surge in popularity following Franco Colapinto's debut. 

Colapinto was drafted in by Williams to replace Logan Sargeant, making his debut at the Italian GP, finishing 12th in the first F1 appearance by an Argentine since Gaston Mazzacane in 2001.

At the next race in Azerbaijan, Colapinto finished eighth to bank four points and become the first Argentine to achieve that since Carlos Reutemann in the 1982 South African GP, with there being a surge in searches in Argentina about attending the upcoming Sao Paulo GP in Brazil. 

The last Argentine GP was in 1998, at the Autódromo Oscar y Juan Gálvez in Buenos Aries, the final race at the 2.6 mile, 18 turn circuit being won by Michael Schumacher for Ferrari. 

In 2012, then-president Cristina Fernández de Kirchner announced plans for a street race in the seaside city of Mar del Plata, but no contracts were ever signed with then F1-supremo Bernie Ecclestone. 

However, a government minister is now looking to try and revive the race. 

"I spoke with President Javier Milei and the secretary-general of the presidency Karina Milei in order to coordinate all efforts so that Argentina can once again host a Formula 1 race," minister for tourism, environment, and sport Daniel Scioli told La Agencia de Viajes. 

However, one major obstacle is that the circuit has fallen into disrepair and requires about $20 million USD to bring it up to FIA Grade 2 status. 

For it host a grand prix, this would need to be improved to FIA Grade 1 status, with investment being sought. 

Scioli is to also attend the upcoming Sao Paulo GP to hold talks and to begin the process of returning Argentina to the F1 calendar.