Work on the Formula 1 Grand Prix circuit in Madrid will get underway in May, aiming to be ready for the expected debut in September 2026.
The event organizers have eased concerns about the timeline by awarding the contract for the construction of the hybrid city circuit, which will indeed have an urban character but will also include permanent sections. On Tuesday, the contract was signed with a joint venture composed of the Spanish company ACCIONA (60%) and the French company Eiffage Construction (40%). The two firms will build the 5.47 km track in the area near Barajas Airport, close to the IFEMA exhibition center.
Last January, the mayor of Madrid, José Luis Martínez-Almeida, had announced that construction would begin in April. However, the complexity of the tendering process, which involved five companies, caused delays and put the 2026 debut timeline at risk.
The new target for the start of construction is now set for early May. According to Motorsport.com, building permits are expected to be granted next week, and construction sites will open immediately afterward in order to meet the 14-month timeframe needed to complete the project.
“In principle, we should be able to start in May, so that the Grand Prix can take place in 2026,” Almeida told Telemadrid.
“After more than forty years, Formula 1 will return to Madrid, with a street circuit, in line with the direction Formula 1 is taking: more city tracks. We submitted this proposal, they accepted it, and so the people of Madrid will finally be able to enjoy Formula 1 in 2026. The most concrete proof that the event will happen is the start of construction in May.”
Madrid will take over from Barcelona as the host of the Spanish Grand Prix. The Catalan city is expected to hold its final race in 2026, unless its contract is renewed.
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