F1 could axe another iconic track for street race after Madrid gets Spanish GP

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Formula 1 could now axe yet another iconic circuit in Suzuka as Osaka is targeting the rights to host the Japanese GP after Madrid just stole the Spanish GP from Barcelona.

The IFEMA exhibition centre and F1 announced this Tuesday that they had agreed a 10-year contract for Madrid to stage the Spanish GP starting from the 2026 season. It has been held at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya since 1991. But it will now move to the Spanish capital.

Madrid stealing the Spanish GP also marks the addition of yet another street track to the F1 calendar. The IFEMA exhibition centre will create a 5.4km (3.3m) circuit with street and non-street sections. F1 will race at seven street tracks through the 24 rounds of the 2024 season.

Osaka wants to bring F1 to Japan’s third-largest city with a street track

Now, the future of the Japanese GP could also be at a street circuit as Osaka’s tourism board is keen to stage a Formula 1 race. That is according to The Race, which reports that Japan’s third-largest city – behind Tokyo and Yokohama – confirmed its intentions earlier in January.

The Honda-owned Suzuka Circuit has hosted all but two of the past 35 Japanese Grand Prix since 1987. F1 briefly returned to the Fuji Speedway in 2007 and 2008 before Toyota, which has owned the track since 2000, faced financial problems amidst the global economic crisis.

Osaka’s tourism board is now keen to stage a Formula 1 race as it sees the potentially huge economic benefits. It feels a race would attract visitors to the city from Europe, the US and Australia. Osaka has also been exploring taking on a Formula 1 race over the past two years.

Japan could get two Grand Prix as F1 plots a new contract for Suzuka

Local Osaka authorities support the idea of Formula 1 in the city, as long as it is a long-term agreement funded by private investment. The privately funded project with public support would, thus, likely see the race use a street track but a purpose-built circuit is under review.

Osaka’s interest in a race comes amid Suzuka entering the final year of its contract to stage the Japanese GP. But F1 is believed to be working on a new contract for the Honda-owned track. It is likely to be a medium-term agreement to see the Japanese GP remain at Suzuka.

Doubts also remain about Osaka’s chances of preparing a street race – let alone a purpose-built circuit – in time to take over the Japanese GP in 2025. Osaka chiefs also admit a 2025 race is unlikely as the city will host the World Expo event that year. But F1 remains a target.

One option is also for Japan to have two Grand Prix going forward, with Suzuka and Osaka both staging races. F1 is enjoying vast popularity in the country with Honda powering Red Bull and Max Verstappen’s recent dominance. But two F1 races in a small nation is unlikely.