As Madrid gears up to announce its own Formula 1 Grand Prix, Barcelona is resolutely determined to maintain its longstanding position on the F1 calendar. Photos hinting at the Madrid GP announcement have surfaced online, with F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali expected to attend the event this Tuesday. However, the introduction of this new city race raises questions about the future of Barcelona’s Circuit de Catalunya, the traditional host of the Spanish Grand Prix since 1991.
Pere Aragones, the president of the government of Catalonia, remains optimistic amidst these developments. Speaking to Catalunya Radio, he expressed confidence in the ongoing negotiations with F1. “We are working with Formula 1,” he said. “The relationship is good. We are working to have another contract with which to continue for a few more years. We are working on that and making positive progress and will announce it when we have it signed.”
Speculation abounds that Madrid could either replace Barcelona as the Spanish GP host or lead to an alternating arrangement between the two cities. Yet, President Aragones emphasizes Catalonia’s autonomy in these discussions. “To defend the interests of Catalonia, we set the rhythms, the dynamics and the criteria,” he remarked. “The future of F1 in Catalonia will depend on the Barcelona-Catalunya circuit and on F1 itself. Not on anyone else.”
When asked about the implications of Madrid’s new GP, Aragones refrained from drawing conclusions about Barcelona’s fate. “If there can be grands prix in other places is a question for F1, not for us,” he stated. “This year we will have a grand prix and from 2026 we are working to ensure the continuity of the grand prix held in Catalonia. After that, F1 will say what happens in other places.”
The proposed Madrid F1 race is expected to feature a circuit near the Ifema event facilities, including a unique design with a heavily banked corner and an indoor section, adding another intriguing dimension to the F1 calendar.
