Switzerland has officially ended one of the most emblematic bans in motorsport history, allowing races on circuits in the country once again. The change will take effect from July 1, 2026, ending a restriction that lasted 71 years.
Read more Formula 1 records a 53% increase in revenues in the first quarter of 2026
This decision marks an important milestone for European motorsport and reopens the doors for hosting international events on Swiss territory. Even so, a Formula 1 GP in the country is not yet planned, as local authorities will continue to require strict safety, noise, and environmental impact criteria.
The ban on circuit racing was created after the 1955 24 Hours of Le Mans tragedy, an accident that resulted in the death of more than 80 people. After the incident, countries like France, Germany, and Spain temporarily suspended their motorsport activities but later allowed races again after safety improvements on the tracks.
In Switzerland, however, the situation was different. The government decided to incorporate the ban directly into national legislation, making the veto a permanent rule for decades. Still, some disciplines escaped the restriction, such as hill climb races, Rally, Motocross, and time trial competitions.
Even without circuit races, Switzerland continued to produce important names in motorsport. The country had two Formula 1 winners, Jo Siffert and Clay Regazzoni, with the latter nearly winning the title in 1974 before losing the battle to Emerson Fittipaldi.
Read more F1: Leclerc’s wife responds to criticism on social media
The Swiss also achieved success in other traditional motorsport categories. Sébastien Buemi won the 24 Hours of Le Mans four times, while Marcel Fässler triumphed on three occasions and Neel Jani secured a victory in the classic French race.
This process to overturn the ban began a few years ago. In 2022, the Swiss parliament had already approved the end of the veto, but only on May 6 of this year did the Federal Council officially confirm that the change will come into effect from July 2026.
In recent years, the country had already been preparing a gradual return to international motorsport. Zurich and Bern hosted Formula E rounds in 2018 and 2019, respectively, following an exception created in 2015 for electric cars. These events were considered important steps toward the definitive removal of the historic ban.
Read more F1: FIA confirms investigation into team ownership
