Stefano Domenicali, the captain at the helm of Formula 1, has let slip that the historic European leg of the F1 circuit could see a dramatic shuffle. By 2026, the tradition-rich European grands prix might start taking turns on the F1 calendar, a move prompted by the ballooning 24-race schedule that’s been under the microscope lately. And with Madrid elbowing its way onto the 2026 roster, it’s clear the appetite for F1 in Europe is far from waning.
“Signing the contract to host the race in Madrid was very important for us because it showed that there is still a lot of interest in Formula 1 in Europe, although many believed that we should leave Europe due to the lack of interest,” Domenicali, steering the ship for Liberty Media, shared, quashing doubts about Europe’s F1 fervor.
“But we proved that this is not so.”
Yet, the addition of Madrid seems to have been the nudge Domenicali needed to entertain a rotating roster for some European races.
Barcelona, with its deep-rooted F1 history, now finds itself at a crossroads. As Madrid gears up to claim the Spanish GP title in 2026, Barcelona could be rebranded as the European GP, pending a handshake with Domenicali.
“In Barcelona there is a huge desire to keep hosting the grand prix there in the coming years. In 2026 we will have a lot of grands prix, mainly in Europe, and we are considering various options,” revealed the F1 CEO. “In 2026 you will see something interesting. We are currently in talks with promoters in Europe and will be able to announce something soon.”
