Official – A Grand Prix in Madrid from 2026, Barcelona on reprieve

Rumors have been circulating for a while now, and the official announcement came this Tuesday morning: yes, Madrid will once again host the Formula 1 from 2026! The Spanish capital, which had expressed the wish to organize a Grand Prix for almost two years, sees his dream come true with a long-term contract over ten seasons, until 2035.

Madrid to host the Spanish Grand Prix from 2026! 🇪🇸

Featuring a brand-new circuit located in the city of Madrid!

Here's all you need to know 👇#F1 @IFEMA pic.twitter.com/KHucpnlDZV

- Formula 1 (@ F1) January 23, 2024

Madrid will therefore make its return to the calendar, 45 years after the last Grand Prix contested on the Jarama track, located in the northern suburbs of the Spanish capital. However, in 2026, it will be on a brand new semi-permanent circuit (like Albert Park in Melbourne or the Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve in Montreal), located around the IFEMA convention center near the airport. of Barajas, where Formula 1 will visit.

A semi-permanent circuit of 5,47 kilometers

The new circuit will be 5,47 kilometers long, and will consist of 20 turns. According to the first simulations, the lap time should be around 1'32″400. The venue is expected to be able to accommodate more than 110 fans per day in the stands, general entrances and VIP hospitality. There are also plans to increase the circuit's capacity to 000 people per day during the first half of the agreement.

Here is the route of the new Grand Prix in Madrid © F1

“Madrid is an incredible city, with an exceptional sporting and cultural heritage, and today's announcement opens an exciting new chapter for F1 in Spain, welcomes Stefano Domenicali, president and CEO of Formula 1. I would like to thank the IFEMA Madrid team, the regional government of Madrid and the city mayor for putting together a fantastic proposal. It truly embodies Formula 1's vision of creating a multi-day sporting and entertaining spectacle, delivering maximum value to fans and emphasizing innovation and sustainability. »

The return of Madrid to F1 does not mean that Barcelona is leaving the calendar: the discipline indicates that discussions are still underway with the Catalan city and specifies that the possibility of having two Grands Prix in Spain from 2026 “cannot be excluded”. Formula 1 nevertheless emphasizes that it must “see what Barcelona offers and see if it is in the interest of the sport to include it in the calendar while having Madrid. » As a reminder, the Catalan circuit's contract with Formula 1 runs until… 2026. There would therefore potentially be two Grands Prix in Spain (including a European GP?) in 2026.

ALSO READ > Japanese Grand Prix: Osaka soon in contention, Suzuka in danger?