From 2026, Formula 1 is to return to Madrid. After more than four decades - with the last time that the Spanish Grand Prix was held in the capital dating from 1981, at the Jarama track - the premiere motor racing category will again be present in Madrid at the IFEMA circuit. And at the same time, the announcement seems to also bring to an end a run of 35 straight years of the main Spanish F1 event being held at the Circuit de Catalunya, at Montmeló, leaving a huge question mark over the future of F1 racing at the circuit near Barcelona.
The IFEMA circuit in Madrid is a semi-urban route of 5,474 metres designed by Jarno Zaffelli, with 20 curves, two of them elevated, on which the time per lap is calculated to be around one minute 32 seconds. The competition has reached an agreement to move to Madrid at least until 2035.
Madrid could replace Montmeló
This project aims to develop a new paradigm combining sport and spectacle, based on a principle of private investment, and asserting its economic and environment sustainability. At 10:30am this Tuesday, at the IFEMA fairgrounds, Stefano Domenicali, president and CEO of Formula 1, and José Vicente de los Mozos, president of the Executive Committee of IFEMA Madrid made the agreement official .
In addition, the event was chaired by the president of the Community of Madrid and of the Governing Board of IFEMA Madrid, Isabel Díaz Ayuso, in which José Luis Martínez-Almeida, the mayor of the city, also participated, along with Ángel Asensio, president of the Madrid Chamber of Commerce and Industry. In addition, it should be noted that this Grand Prix will have its own anthem.
Several sources report that Domenicali is not favour of keeping Montmeló on the calendar in parallel with the so-called Spanish GP that will be held in Madrid. Be that as it may, during the 2026 season, both circuits have a contract in force and therefore a F1 date would be held at both. Meanwhile, sources from the Catalan government's enterprise and employment ministries explained on Monday to Europa Press that the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya wishes to organize an "extraordinary" Formula 1 Grand Prix and that work is being done "to extend the long-term contract".