The Spanish Grand Prix will be held at a new semi-permanent circuit in Madrid from 2026, but that does not necessarily imply the departure of the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya from the calendar. This assurance was given by the president and CEO of the championship, Stefano Domenicali, as well as the ambition of the Montmeló track.
On the official F1 website, the Italian executive stated: ‘To clarify doubts and clarify here, the fact that we are in Madrid does not exclude the fact that we can stay in Barcelona in the future. Looking ahead, discussions are taking place to see if we can even expand our collaboration with Barcelona, with whom we have a very good relationship, for the future’.
According to grandprix.com, the city of Barcelona clarified that it continues to support the circuit: ‘We maintain our commitment to the Circuit de Catalunya and have made it clear our political, institutional, and economic support throughout the negotiations, even expressing our willingness to increase the current financial contribution to ensure the competitiveness of the Montmeló facilities’.
The Spanish government, through Sports Minister Pilar Alegría, revealed that they are working to have two GPs in the country, while the Catalan regional government highlighted the good relationship they continue to have with F1.
What is certain is that Barcelona will lose the designation of the Spanish GP if it remains on the calendar, something that the Minister of Business of the Catalan government downplayed in an interview with RAC 1: ‘I am convinced that there will be a renewal of the contract. We have an excellent relationship with Formula 1 and we are working on that basis. We will have two fantastic Grand Prix. For us, the name is not important’.
