The F1 GP in Madrid, in the “final phase” of Formula 1 negotiations: this is what you should know

Madrid is getting closer to Formula 1. Last April, Mundo Deportivo reported exclusively that sources close to the negotiations between Madrid and F1 assumed that F1 would come to the Spanish capital. It is understood that this is from 2027, when the contract that includes F1 at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, with racing until 2026, ends (including). Eight months later, ‘El Mundo’ assures that this date can be advanced to 2026, something that if it happens means that in the same year the Grand Prix will be held in Madrid and the Spanish GP in Barcelona, ​​​​​​​​two in the same year in Spain. That is, unless the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya gives up its place in 2026, something the Catalan circuit is not considering in any case.

According to the aforementioned newspaper, the announcement of the deal is “imminent” and could come from Liberty Media (owner of F1) in the next few hours or next week. In that sense, IFEMA sources assured the Europa Press agency that the “final stage” of negotiations with Liberty Media and that the Madrid GP “Still no definite confirmation”. “Progress is being made and the final decision is a matter for Formula 1.”added said source to the aforementioned agency, assuring that “when the time comes” to announce it, they will do so, without confirming or denying that the announcement may be imminent.

For his part, the The mayor of Madrid, José Luis Martínez Almeida, is very optimistic about thisbut can’t confirm confirmation will take hours or days. “We are the best city to host F1. We worked through IFEMA, but the official confirmation corresponds to F1,” he added. When asked if the GP is in 2026, the councilor said only that “We worked, we met all the requirements but the final decision corresponds to them.”

Circuit in front of Real Madrid Sports City

It should be noted that, As already mentioned in MD in April, the F1 route that will be built around IFEMA Madrid and will pass through some streets of Valdebebas was already designed at that time..

As a source close to the negotiations explained to this newspaper, the circuit will go IFEMA in Valdebebas, forcing vehicles to pass under the M-11 bridge. This route, already designed, should use one of the widest streets that pass right next to IFEMA, such as Vía de Dublin, to go to Valdebebas passing under the M-11 bridge to Real Madrid Sports City .

Investment in this event must be 100% private. In this case, as MD learned, there is an important Mexican investor behind it who has a great interest in making this race a reality in Madrid. According to ‘El Mundo’, “powerful multinational in charge of organizing races in Mexico and Miami” seeks to create this event.

Circuit, who has a contract until 2026: will negotiate

On the other hand, there is the situation of the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. The big Catalan facility has a contract until 2026 and sources from the route did not want to check something they consider rumours, but they assured that The 2026 F1 Spanish GP will be held in Barcelona, ​​​​whether or not there is another race on the calendar that could be held in Madrid under a different name.

Starting in 2027, things change. It will be necessary to see if Madrid keeps the name of the Spanish GP if it is part of the calendar and if Barcelona is likely to keep its race. As the MD found out, F1 would have offered the Generalitat the possibility to match the numbers offered by Madrid in its proposal.

The F1 calendar is increasingly full of events, with a total of 22 in 2024, with more countries interested in hosting races in a competition that in recent years has experienced a massive boom in following the youngest all thanks to the Netflix series, ‘Drive to Survive’, and the incredible finale of the 2021 World Cup. In that context, it seems difficult for Spain to host two Grand Prix for a long time, as I already mentioned months ago. Stefano Domenicali, CEO of F1, in an interview with the newspaper ‘AS’. In that interview, the Italian welcomed the improvements he was making and would continue to make to the track’s facilities, although he emphasized that “the things that are happening now in Barcelona should have come earlier.”

“For example, I’m seeing something I’ve been asking for for years: the city seems to finally understand that we’re here. Two years ago they were looking elsewhere. That’s important if you want to hope. Without that focus, it’s impossible. Let’s see,” Doimenicali said a few months ago to ‘AS’.

F1’s following grew worldwide and began to succeed in markets where it had not yet succeeded, such as the United States. There, at the appointment of Austin, Miami and Las Vegas city races have been added. Exactly, that’s the model that F1 likes the most: appointments in the middle of cities, urban, close to the public, with easy access where the perfect product can be built for the personalities that leave the most money to the tracks. and around it: VIP’s and guests.

Precisely for this reason, the option of Madrid was looked at by Formula 1. It fully complies with what F1 wants, because the track can be reached by public transport and on foot. In addition, this product allows F1 to offer VIP experiences with greater demand and higher prices using the IFEMA pavilions.

But at the same time, The Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, with a contract until 2026, will have the opportunity to continue negotiations to stay on a calendar where there may be spaces left by other historic layouts with an uncertain future.

Sources from the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya assured this newspaper that negotiations between the Catalan track and F1 are still ongoing and for now their main focus is on creating the best possible Spanish GP for 2024. Everything remains open despite the fact that it seems clear that everything is in Madrid to host the F1 Grand Prix.

The Government spokesperson, Patricia Plajadescribed on Tuesday as “rumors” that the Spanish capital was ending its hosting of the Grand Prix. “In no case have the organizers informed us or made any changes official”he said.

On the other hand, the president ofThe Higher Sports Council (CSD), Víctor Francos, said at an event on Monday at the Círculo Ecuestre de Barcelona that “for the first time” the safety of the Spanish F1 GP at the Circuit is at risk.

“It is known that there is a project in Madrid, presented by IFEMA, and it is a semi-urban circuit, competing with Barcelona. For the first time, there is an alternative proposal,” explained Francos at the colloquium. .

However, Plaja expressed the Generalitat’s willingness to “extend the agreement” beyond 2026: “We continue to work with the organizers and in permanent contact.”