“F1 is now a show with a race”

The director of the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, Josep Lluís Santamaría (Barcelona, ​​​​1965), explained that “Formula 1 is now a show with a race” refers to the reasons that led 277,836 spectators to attend the Grand Prix in 2022 and that, so far, 70,000 tickets have been sold for the 2023 Grand Prix, which will be held in June.

In addition, in this interview with EFE, Santamaría examines what happened at the Circuit in 2022 and the news that 2023 will bring, where the sports venue will experience a significant improvement in its facilities and can host the concert.

Question: How many tickets have you sold for the Formula 1 Grand Prix next June?

Answer: About 70,000. And, the first day they went on sale, 40,000 were bought.

Q: How is this phenomenon explained?

A: This is not a ‘boom’ that only happens in Spain. Fernando Alonso and Carlos Sainz are there, who have a lot of fans here. But there is an increase in Formula 1 spectators around the world. It used to be very difficult to see ‘sold out’ (all tickets sold) and now in 2022 almost all circuits are sold out. Formula 1 has done a lot of work in recent years with the Netflix series, the car change and the trend to make it a spectacle and an experience. It used to be a race with shows and now it’s a great show with a race.

Q: Will there be more off-road activities at the Circuit that weekend?

A: We are working on this matter. We want that when there is no activity on the track, the public can have other activities, be it musical or entertainment. And we moved it to Barcelona too. This 2022 has been the first time that we have been able to have a ‘village’ there, in Port Vell. In 2023 we want to expand it and do different things, maybe working in different areas of the city.

Q: In 2022, 277,836 spectators attended the Formula 1 GP at the Circuit. Instead, Moto GP stayed at 111,574. In this sense, is Valentino Rossi’s farewell and Marc Márquez’s downtime painful?

A: It all affects. In fact, the last intervention that Márquez underwent was before our Grand Prix. And Moto GP fans tend to buy tickets at the last moment. Valentino’s departure was also noticed. The rivalries of that time, like Jorge Lorenzo’s with Rossi, are probably disappearing. But, this year, with the introduction of the ‘sprint’ race on Saturday there will be more public.

Q: Would it be better for the Circuit to split the two Grands Prix at the right time (Moto GP is in September)?

A: From the workers’ point of view, it’s better. There is a lot of stress that builds up with two World Grand Prix in one month. This year we had 15 days of separation between each other. The Formula 1 structures are still being dismantled and the Moto GP trucks are coming in. This is something we ask for. This separation also favors the public, who have a greater chance of getting to both trials because they don’t spend a lot of money at once.

Q: What new things will spectators see at the Circuit track when they go in 2023?

A: In Turn 1 they will find a bigger hole. The track will not be touched, but the first line of protection will move about 70 meters in a straight line.

Q: Is this the first step in a project that will end with a new grandstand at the end of the straight?

A: There are plans to build a permanent grandstand there, yes. It will have a double meaning: they will be privileged places for the public where you can see how cars and motorcycles are coming towards you along the main straight and, on the other hand, the structure will mean an acoustic reduction of the Circuit emissions. In 2023 we will build the platform and possibly put a provisional grandstand.

Q: Off the track, what’s the rest of the news for the new year?

A: We will update the marker at the finish line. It will have LED screens. The idea is that in races where there will be live television, the progress of the test will be shown there and the public can have information about it despite the positions of the drivers. This is a marker that will be 30 meters high. In addition, we will create more shaded areas of the grandstand. Last year we had in turn 5, the M, and this year we will also cover the L and the A.

Q: One of the criticisms you received at the last Formula 1 Grand Prix was that attendees could not refill the water in the fountains because it was not potable. Any solution?

A: Each of the bathhouses is equipped with water fountains where the public can refill their bottles. We will make the connection to the public water network and we will stop using well water, the reason why for the last 30 years it has not been possible to consume water directly from the tap.

Q: There was also criticism of the queues that formed to enter and exit the venue. Is access improving?

A: When 120,000 people come to a place like this, there are lines. What we need to try is to make the tail as short as possible. We must provide a lot of information. For example, with tickets you can enter any of the Circuit’s eight doors. This year there is a lot of queues at one door and the next few people. At gate 6 and 7 many gathered. We will place informants to warn them and we are also making an application. And we also need to work on the traffic device to improve fluidity.

Q: When will the installation of the giant solar panel on the main stand begin?

A: Now, before the end of the year, we will have a project and we will tender the installation at the beginning of January. So in the first quarter of 2023 we will see solar panels installed in the main stand.

Q: In 2022 they were busy 89% of the days at the Circuit. Is there an option to increase the percentage further? Maybe doing activities like concerts?

A: We have the largest infrastructure in the country. What we are looking for is to be able to accommodate different activities and them simultaneously in time. Regarding the possibility of doing concerts, we will put the installation. We are working with the promoters to fix them. We must surround ourselves with the best.