F1 chief admits ‘very important’ Spanish GP U-turn as Madrid steals race from Barcelona

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Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has admitted to a ‘very important’ U-turn about the Spanish GP after Madrid stole the race from Barcelona on a contract starting in 2026.

The Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya has hosted the Spanish GP solely since 1991. But the track in the municipality of Montmelo now faces an uncertain place on the F1 calendar past 2025. Madrid will take over the hosting in 2026 to begin its 10-year contract at a new track.

F1 confirmed on Tuesday that the IFEMA exhibition centre is to build a 5.5km (3.4m) circuit with both street and non-street segments. The 20-turn track will mark Formula 1’s return to the Spanish capital. Madrid held the Spanish GP at Jarama off-and-on from 1968 until 1981.

Madrid will host the Spanish GP from the 2026 Formula 1 season

The IFEMA exhibition centre circuit is expected to boast a capacity in excess of 110,000 per day. It also envisages increasing the capacity to around 140,000 through the first half of F1’s 10-year contract with the track. It can become one of the best-attended races on the billing.

But the Spanish GP’s long-term future in Barcelona was in some doubt before Formula 1 set about discussing a race in Madrid. The Montmelo circuit’s contract to host Spain’s round on the calendar was set to run into 2026. But the Spanish GP will now move to Madrid in 2026.

Seven-time F1 champion Lewis Hamilton will hope the change in circuits does not impact his dominance at the Spanish GP, if the Mercedes driver is still racing. The 39-year-old has won the race six times in Barcelona, just Michael Schumacher has won as many Spanish GPs yet.

Stefano Domenicali admits F1 has made a U-turn regarding Spain

Formula 1 CEO Domenicali has clarified that the series is still in dialogue with the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya about the track’s future on the calendar. It is possible that Spain might have two Grand Prix in the future or for the Montmelo circuit to take on an alternative role.

Domenicali also admits that F1 has made a slight U-turn in recent years over Spain’s spot on the calendar. The European nation was not one that Formula 1 saw as an integral part of its future. But the series enjoying a resurgence in the country has helped to secure its future.

“Spain was a market that just a couple of years ago, was not in the centre of our eyes,” said Domenicali, via quotes by Formula 1’s website. “Now, it is very important. We signed a new deal with Spanish broadcaster DAZN until, at least, the end of 2026.

“It’s a nice problem to have, to have multiple cities – some in the same country – wanting to host a Grand Prix. It shows the value of our proposition. But we need to keep focused on the reason for our success and make sure we aren’t complacent.”

Spain currently has two drivers in Formula 1 through Aston Martin ace Fernando Alonso and Carlos Sainz with Ferrari. Much of the series’ success in Spain can also be credited to Alonso following his titles with Renault in 2005 and 2006 by offering a home hero for fans to follow.