Stefano Domenicali, president and CEO of Formula 1, did not rule out the coexistence of two Formula 1 Grand Prix in Spain starting in 2026. After it was announced that the Spanish capital will host the Spanish Grand Prix from 2026 to 2035, the Italian CEO responded, “Why not?” to the coexistence of two events in Spanish territory.
The contract with Montmeló, the circuit that currently hosts the Spanish Formula 1 Grand Prix, ends in 2026, but Domenicali does not exclude that two events of the top automobile competition may coexist in Madrid and Barcelona. “Barcelona is incredible, because Oriol Sagrera (CEO of the Circuit de Catalunya) is an incredible person and is doing an extraordinary job for Barcelona. Barcelona is Formula 1 and work is being done to look beyond it,” he declared after the event. “Spain deserves to have an opportunity to further increase its presence in the future, therefore we are working, we will see soon,” added Domenicali.
Madrid announced this Tuesday that it is recovering F1 races 40 years later with an urban circuit. The first test will be held in 2026 under the name of the Spanish Grand Prix, as presented this Tuesday morning at the IFEMA in an event in which Isabel Diaz Ayuso, the president of the Community of Madrid, was present; José Luis Martínez Almeida, mayor of the capital and Stefano Domenicali, president and CEO of Formula 1. No questions were allowed and everything took place in an atmosphere of great triumphalism.
The initial contract is signed for ten seasons, from 2026 to 2035, in which an annual economic impact of 450 million per edition is expected, that is, more than 4.5 billion euros that F1 would leave indirectly in Madrid. F1 is one of the most global sports, with about 210 million people per Grand Prix on television, about 140 through television and another 70 through the F1 platform.
The preliminary draft of the circuit concept, pending homologation by the FIA, will have a length of 5.474 km, 20 curves, and a qualifying lap of 1 minute and 32 seconds.
According to the organization of the event, “the route will use the IFEMA Madrid roads, both from the current site and the future ones on the Valdebebas plot, in addition to just 1.5 km of public roads. The project will benefit from more facilities of 200,000 m2 of covered pavilions, 10,000 meters of multipurpose meeting spaces and 10,000 parking spaces.
The same sources assure that “the materialization of the project will in turn add new constructions to the venue, such as two buildings that will extend pavilions 1 and 2, to house the most exclusive Paddock Club, among other infrastructures, which will be operated and marketed by IFEMA Madrid for its usual activity the rest of the year. Regarding attendance capacity, it is estimated to start with 110,000 spectators, to exceed 140,000 in the fifth year.”
The last time Formula 1 cars raced through the streets of Madrid was in 1981 at the Jarama Circuit (San Sebastián de los Reyes) 30 kilometers from the capital. After nine consecutive editions, the circuit closed due to the economic deficit it produced for the organizers. The last race was won by Gilles Villeneuve.
In his speech, Martínez Almeida, the mayor, highlighted that “Madrid aspires not only to have a Formula 1 GP, but to have the best in the entire competition.” In an even more triumphalist line, the president of the Community, Isabel Diaz Ayuso, spoke: Madrid awakens openness and trust inside and outside our borders. “We are the driving force of Spain and F1 will contribute to further consolidating the Madrid brand among the best in the world.”
