What is India trying to pull with this F1 return rumor?

There are many countries where rumors of a new Formula 1 race are always rumbling, and India is one of them. The thing is, they still have some bills to pay from last time, and they claim they aren’t paying them because, actually, F1 owes them a ton of tax revenue, and so anyway, things are a bit touchy.

But suddenly the Indian sports minister is saying to the media, “There will be an F1 race in India in 2027. This is 100% happening,” despite the fact that it is 100% not happening. It turns out that he simply had a meeting with some FIA member person, who obviously has no say whatsoever about where F1 races. F1 has had to respond — gently, but firmly. To whatever extent there actually are any plans to bring back the Indian Grand Prix, doesn’t this sort of thing hurt the case?