In recent weeks, we had reported the news of a possible city Grand Prix through the streets of Madrid. The negotiations seemed to have reached an advanced stage, but now the FIA has reminded that more is needed to have its project approved, and thus, the stage on the calendar.
As reported by motorsport Spain, during the Gala evening organized by the International Federation in Baku, Carmelo Sanz de Barros, the first vice president of the FIA and president of RACE (Real Automóvil Club de España), significantly lowered the expectations that Madrid currently has of joining Formula 1. Below are his words.
Formula 1 in Madrid, comments from Sanz de Barros
Carmelo Sanz de Barros stated: “I have been busy organizing this event throughout the week, but I have followed all the voices generated by the press. The only thing I can say is that as a Spaniard born in Madrid, I want Formula 1 to return there, that’s for sure. As president of RACE, what can I say? The last time Madrid had Formula 1 was in ’81, and having it again is a desire of many people, but there is a process to respect.”
Continuing, he explained: “There is a clear process to have a Grand Prix in a particular place, and I don’t think the correct procedure is being followed, nor have the right steps been taken to advance with the negotiations, contrary to what is read in the newspapers.”
“Who is the sporting authority of a country? The ASN. In the case of Spain, it is the Spanish Federation of Motorsport, so this is where the process begins. Every time you want to hold a race in a country, you go there. And to this day, the Spanish Federation has not even received the project to analyze or study it. So that first step has not yet happened. When the Spanish Federation considers this project valid and is interested, they channel it to the FIA for approval. But to date, no one has worked on all this because the Spanish Federation has never received a project.”
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“Can Spain have two races on the calendar? Yes, we have three in the United States, we have two in Italy. Why not? Have we had them before? Yes. Is it easy? No. Is it possible? Yes, but so far, with all the demand we have, I don’t see that this will be an easy thing.”
Finally, in conclusion, the President of the FIA Senate declared: “This is not the only project I know that wants to bring Formula 1 to Madrid. At least two others exist. But this is what I can share with you for now.”
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