The 125,565 fans who attended the race in Montmeló, the fourth best entry in the 33 years of Formula 1 at the Circuit de Barcelona, ​​were the best argument of the managers of the temple of the engine of Catalonia in the face of the ominous voices that portend the beginning of the end of the great circus in Barcelona for an upcoming transfer to the capital Madrid.
Roger Torrent, Business Councillor, in his capacity as president of the Circuit, was waiting for the question in the meeting with the media in the paddock of the Circuit: Barcelona must be worried about Madrid’s interest in taking Is the F-1 GP starting in 2027?
– We are very convinced of the assets offered by Barcelona, ​​which is history, there are 33 consecutive years of F-1 at the Circuit, but above all what we offer is the future, with this momentum that the Circuit has taken, with the strategic plan, the renewal of the facilities, the visitor’s experience… We are very convinced that the relationship between Barcelona and F-1 will be for many years, for sure – affirmed the councillor.
Torrent has always been very aware of the shadow competition that Madrid has had with Barcelona to get the F-1. He expressed it in La Vanguardia two years ago. “DÃaz-Ayuso tried to take the F-1 to Madrid”, he assured. And there the Community and the City Council of Madrid and other living forces (such as the RACE) continue, striving to create a project that will convince the F-1 and Stefano Domenicali, patron of the great circus.
Faced with eventual competition, and even though Barcelona has three more years left on its contract, the Circuit has already started contacts with F-1 to extend the relationship beyond 2026. “We are talking about it. We would like to extend this relationship as much as possible, we are very satisfied. The commitment of the Government and the country to the GP of F-1 and MotoGP, and to the Circuit, is very great and very intense”, commented Torrent, who was grateful for the explicit support of influential voices such as Lewis Hamilton.
“Don’t do another Valencia: that circuit was not fun. It is important that we keep the classic races”, said the Englishman, referring to the Circuit. “I don’t think we want to lose Barcelona. I love the city and it’s one of the classic circuits I’ve always enjoyed.”
It is this classicism, “tradition”, according to Torrent, that is Barcelona’s argument against F-1. “The main weapon of the Circuit de Barcelona is history and the future, this is unbeatable. We come from a trajectory of years that has created fans, as seen in this influx of public, Catalonia breathes F-1, there is a cultural substratum permeated in the country. It is what the historical GPs with tradition, such as Barcelona, ​​Monaco and Silverstone, contribute, which give the World Cup a plus”.
