Formula 1 has finally announced that the Spanish Grand Prix will be held in the country’s capital city Madrid from 2026 to 2035 following an agreement with IFEMA Madrid in what will be an all new circuit, with both non street and street sections incorporated.
The new circuit will be built around the IFEMA exhibition centre and be approximately 5.47km in length, although the final design has not yet been finalised. The plan is that the circuit will play host to more than 110,000 fans per day but will hope to grow the capacity to 140,000 per day.
In line with Formula 1’s recent push for sustainability, the circuit will be strategically located next to all public transport facilities and will be accessible by Metro lines from the city, with the aim that 90% of the fans will travel to the paddock via public transport. The track will also be a mere 5 minute spin from the Madrid-Barajas Adolfo Suarez airport. Also the hope is also that the buildings around the circuit will be all powered by 100% renewable energy.
IFEMA MADRID have a plan to make this a race that really benefits the whole local economy and want to have fan zone style attractions in down town Madrid rather than just inside the confinements of the circuit, which is expected to generate a projected €450m to the city’s economy per year.
“Madrid is an incredible city with amazing sporting and cultural heritage, and today’s announcement begins an exciting new chapter for F1 in Spain,” said Stefano Domenicali, President and CEO of Formula 1.
“I would like to thank the team at IFEMA MADRID, the Regional Government of Madrid and the city’s Mayor for putting together a fantastic proposal. It truly epitomises Formula 1’s vision to create a multi-day spectacle of sport and entertainment that delivers maximum value for fans and embraces innovation and sustainability.”
Mohammed Ben Sulayem, President of the FIA, added how he is excited at this prospect and also touched on Formula 1’s sustainability model with this new race.
“Modern Formula 1 cars racing on a new circuit in the Spanish capital city of Madrid is an enticing prospect. As we build towards the introduction of the FIA 2026 Formula One regulations, which have been framed with Net Zero carbon by 2030 in mind, it is pleasing to see that the local organisers have placed a sharp focus on environmental sustainability in their plans for the event.”
Jose Vicente de los Mozos, President of the Executive Committee of IFEMA MADRID added his joy of announcing this race.
“Our dream of hosting a major F1 event around IFEMA MADRID has come true, we are thrilled to announce the return of F1 to Madrid after more than four decades.We have the ambition to organise a Grand Prix that will become a reference in the F1 worldwide calendar, specifically conceptualized and designed to offer a distinctive and unique experience for both fans and teams participating in the competition.”
In relation to the economic impact the race will have to the region, Isabel Diaz Ayuso, President of the Region of Madrid spoke about the jobs the race will create.
“With this, Madrid wants to deep dive into the development of a new concept that combines sport and entertainment, while delivering a memorable event. It is with great satisfaction that we announce Formula 1 is coming to the Community of Madrid, to a region and a capital that inspires openness and confidence within and beyond our borders. We are the main engine of Spain’s prosperity and progress.
“This event, which we expect to be followed on a global scale by 70 million people, will represent an increase of more than 450 million euros in Madrid’s GDP per year and the creation of 8,200 jobs.
“The Community of Madrid is a region with a great international projection, open, plural, and competitive, and F1 will contribute to further consolidate the Madrid brand among the best in the world,” concluded Diaz Ayuso
Finally in relation to a race taking place in Barcelona, there has been no announcement of what fate the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya holds. While that event always brings a great crowd and has been a mainstay on the calendar since 2005, many fans often speak about the lack of exciting races that the track layout yields in the Catalonia Region. While the race has a contract for 2026, will the Madrid race spell the end to racing in Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya?
