Madrid, Jan 18: Madrid will be added to the Formula One calendar, multiple sources told The Associated Press.
The official announcement will be made next week in the Spanish capital, according to the sources familiar with the deal, which will bring the series back to the Madrid region more than 40 years after it last hosted an F1 race.
The sources spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not allowed to discuss the matter publicly.
Details on when the Madrid race will be added to the calendar were still being worked out, though reports mentioned a multi-year deal starting in 2026.
Barcelona is under contract to host Formula One races at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya until 2026.
Spanish media said negotiations have been underway with Catalonia officials to see whether an agreement could be reached for Madrid to take over Barcelona’s spot on the calendar before the end of the current contract. There was also the less-likely possibility of having two races in Spain in 2026.
The Madrid race is expected to take place on a street circuit going through the city fairgrounds. Details of the project were set to be announced next week.
Madrid city mayor José Luis Martínez-Almeida said recently “some good news” for the capital was expected next Tuesday.
Madrid region president Isabel Díaz Ayuso said Tuesday that the F1 project would add “so much to the Madrid brand” and would “attract other great projects” to the region.“We will do everything we can to make sure that the project can go through,” she said.
The last F1 race in the Madrid region was in 1981 at the Jarama circuit. The Jerez de la Frontera track in southern Spain hosted races from 1986-1990, and also in 1994 and 1997. Barcelona has been home to F1 in Spain from 1991 until now.
The country also hosted the European Grand Prix on a street circuit in Valencia from 2008-2012.
The contract with Barcelona was extended until 2026 five years ago after the track committed to improvements ahead of the 2022 season.
Red Bull driver Max Verstappen won last year’s Spanish Grand Prix at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. The exact details of the deal are still being finalized, but it’s believed to be a multi-year agreement starting in 2026. There’s even a possibility that Madrid could take over Barcelona’s spot on the calendar before the end of the current contract, which expires in 2026.
The addition of a Madrid race would be a major boost for Formula One, as Spain is one of the sport’s most passionate fan bases.
The Barcelona Grand Prix is always a highlight of the season, and a race in the Spanish capital would be sure to attract even more fans and generate even more excitement.
It’s not yet clear where the Madrid race would be held, but there are a few potential options. The most likely location is a street circuit that would wind its way through the city center, taking in some of Madrid’s most famous landmarks. (AP)
