Madrid, Jan 23: A Madrid Grand Prix will join the Formula One calendar from 2026 on a track that will include street and non-street sections around the city’s exhibition centre.
F1 president Stefano Domenicali was in Madrid for the official announcement on Tuesday of the multi-year deal that will bring the series back to the Madrid region more than 40 years after it last hosted F1.
The Spanish capital signed a contract with F1 until 2035. The city announced a lavish ceremony at the exhibition centre.
Barcelona’s current contract with F1 ends in 2026. The Barcelona-Catalunya track has been hosting the Spanish Grand Prix since 1991.
The new 5.4-kilometer (3.3-mile) circuit, which still needs to be approved by FIA, is expected to feature 20 corners. F1 said the circuit will include a paddock building, a new race tower, office spaces, VIP hospitality and entertainment areas.
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 1986-90 and in 1994 and 1997.
The country also hosted the European Grand Prix on a street circuit in Valencia from 2008-12.
The contract with Barcelona was extended to 2026 five years ago after the track committed to improvements ahead of the 2022 season.
Spanish media said there were negotiations between F1 and Barcelona to have Madrid take its spot on the calendar in 2026.
Barcelona organizers have said they hoped to extend their contract with F1 beyond 2026.
Red Bull driver Max Verstappen won last year’s Spanish GP at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. The Spanish capital is set to host its first Grand Prix since 1980, with the race scheduled to debut in 2026. The circuit will be a unique one, winding its way around the city’s exhibition center, IFEMA, and incorporating both street and non-street sections.
The circuit will be located around IFEMA, with the start/finish straight running alongside the M-40 highway. The 5.4-kilometer (3.3-mile) circuit will feature 20 corners, including a challenging high-speed section and a tight hairpin bend.
The circuit will include a new paddock building, a race tower, office spaces, VIP hospitality areas, and entertainment zones.
The Madrid Grand Prix is expected to generate millions of euros in revenue for the city and create thousands of jobs. (AP)
