It was a “poorly kept secret,” but the official confirmation came this morning: the Spanish Formula 1 Grand Prix will move to Madrid in 2026, with a new semi-permanent circuit in the IFEMA exhibition center area. The agreement between F1 and Ifema Madrid is valid between 2026 and 2035.
The track will have a length of 5.47km, with 20 corners, and it is estimated that the qualifying time will be around 1m32s. There are urban and non-urban sections, and it is also one of the largest circuits on the calendar, capable of accommodating over 110,000 fans per day – with possible expansion to 140,000.
The last time the Spanish Grand Prix was held in Madrid was in 1981, at the “old” Jarama circuit. Since 1991, it has been held consecutively in Barcelona, whose future is uncertain: in statements to the official championship website, its president and CEO, Stefano Domenicali, assured that Madrid’s entry does not necessarily mean Barcelona’s exit. In fact, the United States and Italy currently have more than one round on their territory.
