Formula 1 and the event promoters have announced that starting from 2026, the Madrid Grand Prix will take place, making it the second Formula 1 event in Spain, but this one will be held on a city circuit.
On June 22, 2022, only a few took Madrid’s candidacy for hosting a Formula 1 Grand Prix too seriously. Less than two years later, everyone had to reconsider their stance.
This morning, Formula 1 and the event promoters IFEMA, represented by José Vicente de los Mozos, announced that from 2026, the capital of Spain will host a Formula 1 Grand Prix.
The race, set to take place in the city of Madrid, will be another addition to a calendar already full of events that bring Formula 1 cars to the streets people use every day to go to work, visit loved ones, take a stroll, or explore the area.
The city circuit will measure 5.47 kilometers, utilizing both common roads and others specially constructed for the event around IFEMA, located to the northeast of the Spanish capital. The track, still awaiting approval from the FIA, will consist of 20 turns, and the lap time is expected to be around 1’32”.
IFEMA, a significant conference and convention center in the capital, is large enough – including the surrounding streets – to be used to manage a Formula 1 race. It is managed by a consortium of public entities, including the City of Madrid (31%), the regional administration of the Community of Madrid (31%), the Chamber of Commerce of Madrid (31%), and the Montemadrid Foundation (7%).
It has been clear for several months that IFEMA was serious about this endeavor. De los Mozos had already stated, “I know when we will sign the contract, and I know when we will hold the race.”
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“We have followed the process indicated to us. The Spanish Automobile Federation has been informed from the very beginning; we signed the exclusivity, and now we are proceeding with the contract.”
In recent weeks, the contract has been signed, and the Madrid Grand Prix will take place from 2026. It will be a significant year because in the same season, the last Grand Prix at the Circuit de Catalunya-Barcelona, better known as Montmelo, is also expected to be held.
For many years, the Catalan track has hosted the Spanish Grand Prix, but with the inclusion of the Madrid Grand Prix, things are set to change. In 2026, the events will be renamed the Catalonia Grand Prix for Montmelò and the Spanish Grand Prix for Madrid. Then, attention will turn to the Circuit de Catalunya to see if the promoters will seek and succeed in extending the contract or if the track near Granollers will exit the scene.
Returning to Madrid, according to the event promoters, the race weekend should generate €500 million for the region. Significant revenue for a Formula 1 even more inclined to focus on money. It will need to be careful not to exceed the allowed limit, as neglecting the sporting aspect could lead to the collapse of the castle of cards built in these years.
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