Madrid waited with bated breath for the big reveal: the city would host a Formula 1 World Cup event. Days before the public unveiling that signaled the return of the sport to the capital, banners on municipal buses flashed a simple yet bold message: Welcome Back. Beyond the spectacle, two pieces of crucial information stood out. The date flashed ahead to 2026, marking 45 years since F1’s farewell to Jarama. And the event name, the Spanish GP, still tethered to Montmeló, with Formula 1 Management contracts set to expire in two years as the calendar evolves.
“Can two races be held in Spain? Why not?”
Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali responded with measured grace when asked about Madrid and Barcelona sharing the World Cup calendar. His simple, confident answer—Can two races be held in Spain? Why not?—came after a discussion during an event that reiterated Montmeló’s historical route and significance.
The circuit for the new Spanish F1 GP in Madrid: 5.47 kilometers, four transition zones
Sources close to the talks indicate that funding remains the main hurdle for keeping the Catalan test alive. The plan calls for private funding to cover both reinforcement and wages, estimated at 22 million euros per year. Madrid’s aim is a 100% privately financed Spanish GP, avoiding past episodes of public reliance.
There is a desire to steer clear of earlier missteps like the European GP in Valencia. In June, Valencia’s government finalized payments of about 7.5 million to support the F1 urban track project, a commitment that echoed the financial complexities of such ventures when zero-cost promises fray.
According to the Circuit de Barcelona-C Catalunya’s most recent strategic outlook from January 2022, the route activities have generated substantial economic impact, with hundreds of millions in activity and thousands of jobs. The Generalitat remains committed to the project despite ongoing debates about Madrid’s competing appeal. Yet the bottom line remains a balancing act: if expected benefits do not materialize, the public purse may absorb the shortfall. For context, a sizable portion of public funds was allocated in 2021, reflecting political and economic pressures that accompany large-scale sporting events.
Ayuso: “I would like the Grand Prix to continue in Barcelona”
Over the past decade and a half, the circuit has relied on substantial institutional support. The objective remains regional collaboration, with continued efforts to extend beyond 2026 and to secure agreements with other cities. Catalonia has hosted the championship for more than 30 years, and momentum continues to build. The Generalitat leadership has signaled progress as the project evolves, emphasizing a forward-looking stance.
Facing that political reality, the Madrid Community’s leadership highlighted the strategic advantages of the new Spanish GP, expressing a preference for a Barcelona continuation while stressing that no part of Spain should be left out of the plan. The Madrid initiative nonetheless moved forward on its own terms, driven by a strong belief in the event’s potential to unify tradition and spectacle.
F1’s return to Madrid in 2026 is a concrete plan: the exhibiting phase of the new Spanish GP
Key negotiations were steered by the leadership at Ifema, working closely with the F1 organizing team led by Stefano Domenicali. The collaboration reflects a shared history in the automotive industry and a commitment to structural synergies. The project positions Ifema at the center of the event, aligning with the strategic goal of integrating the race into a broader economic and tourism framework.
De los Mozos: the central figure in the Madrid Spanish GP project
De los Mozos’s independent profile aligns with Ifema, the hub around which the Spanish GP will revolve. The leadership sees a clear path for Formula 1 to bridge heritage with spectacle, transforming Jarama’s legacy into a modern engine for tourism and economic activity in Madrid. The plan leverages a corridor of activity that connects the logistics of the event with tangible regional benefits.
The naming of the event as the Spanish Grand Prix lends additional resonance to the plan, which will route through Ifema and integrate with the circuit remodeling overseen by the project chief, who previously contributed to other notable European circuits. Past arrangements included European GPs held in Jerez and Valencia, though the official naming evolved in later years.
The Madrid GP aims to be “the best in F1”: a bold economic vision with broad returns
All attention centers on the strategic balance between a historic, storied venue like Montmeló and the fresh momentum in Madrid. Formula 1 remains a global spectacle, with growing markets in the United States drawing renewed attention. While the Madrid calculation ticks in favor, the Barcelona side faces a more challenging economic calculus as discussions continue. The vision is ambitious: position Madrid as a premier hub for the sport, while ensuring Barcelona remains a vital part of the broader Spanish Formula 1 ecosystem.