The announcement this week that Madrid would be hosting the Spanish Grand Prix from 2026 onwards continues a a recent trend as F1 turns towards new street based races. The obvious victim appears to be Barcelona, though the historic Catalan venue will also host its final event in the same year as Madrid comes on stream.
As the new race in the Spanish capital was revealed, F1 supremo Stefano Domenicali made it clear the sport was not closing the door on its long term relationship with the Catalan city.
Barcelona hope for new street circuit
“For the avoidance of doubt and to clarify here, the fact we are in Madrid is not excluding the fact we could stay in Barcelona for the future,” Domenicali told the F1 website
“Looking ahead, there are discussions in place to see if we can really extend our collaboration with Barcelona, with whom we have a very good relationship, for the future.”
While it is unlikely F1 will return to the purpose built track in Montmelo there is a case for a street circuit event n downtown Barcelona rather than the current one on the fringes of the city limits. In the 1960’s Spain made a bid to return to the world of international motorsport with the Royal Automobile Club of Spain commissioning a new permanent venue just North of Madrid at Jarama.
Meanwhile the Spanish government refurbished the Monjuic street circuit in Barcelona which was to alternative with Jarama hosting the Spanish Grand Prix.
Epic Monjuic circuit refurbished
The Montjuic layout was thrilling for the drivers but not without peril and is now the location for the olympic Stadium built for the games in 1992.
In its fourth year in 1975 tragedy struck as the Armco barriers had not been secured properly. The drivers were refusing to race and so the organisers threatened to lock away the F1 cars from the teams as the stand off progressed.
The drivers relented but Emerson Fittipaldi retired in protest after just one lap. Then Rolf Stommelen’s car crashed and the rear wing broke away killing four spectators on lap 26 and three laps later the race was stopped wit Jochan Mass deemed the winner and awarded half points.
Modern F1 cars and improved safety barriers could indeed see a return to this iconic venue as the cars would race mourned the Olympic stadium over looking the city.
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Belgium gets just one year extension
Yet the best Barcelona can hope for is to host races that alternate with others as this idea is gaining ground in the future planning for F1.
The F1 event in Belgium is also at risk despite the iconic Spa venue being one of the fans favourites. With its world famous Eau-Rouge/Raidillon section this most spectacular of racing venues may soon be absent from the F1 calendar.
Despite recent upgrades to improve the run off at Raiddillon and an impressive new grandstand, Stefano Domenicali has been reluctant to offer more than one year extensions to the venue which is expected to eventually rotate along with the Dutch Grand Prix.
One of the other historic F1 venues at risk is the one Sebastian Vettel favoured over all the rest. Suzuka’s future is uncertain as Osaka appear to be following Madrid and proposing a street race in the city. This was recently confirmed by regional governor Hirofumi Yoshimura.
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Questions arise for Miami
The Japanese Grand Prix has had two homes in its history at Suzuka and Fuji but the current contract for the home race of Honda expires at the end of next year.
In 2022 Miami arrived in dazzling fashion on the F1 calendar holding a shiny new agreement to host an event until 2013. Yet in an equally spectacular manner the interest in the race slumped horribly last year as Las Vegas became the new kid on the block.
Extortionate ticket prices have blighted the Florida based event and Formula One’s obsession with New York could see racing in the US southern sunshine come to an abrupt premature end.
Reddit reports today that F1 trademarks have been registered under “Grand Prix of Chicago” and “Chicago Grand Prix”. Clearly a conversation is going on behind the scenes to take Formula One to the windy city.
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Europe must host 8 races
Without stating it is their intention, the new owners of F1 are heading in a clear direction. Gone are the multi hundred million dollar racing cathedrals being demanded of a new host which has peaked interest from many more potential race sponsors.
The disused and decaying industrial Formula One complexes in South Korea and India stand testament to ambition which quickly faded as the crowds failed to materialise.
Despite its global appeal much of the fanbase for Formula One remains in Europe with TV audiences eclipsing the average of 1 million achieved recently in the USA.
To this end the Concorde Agreement enshrines the fact the eight races must take place in Europe each year something Bernie Ecclestone tried to play fast and loose with.
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Despite being the wrong side of the Ural Mountains, Bernie designated the inaugural Grand Prix in Azerbaijan as “The European Grand Prix”. This was intended as a threat to European circuits who were complaining about the big increase being charged in hosting fees.
Whilst no vision of the future of Formula One has been promoted by Liberty Media, it feels like the calendar set at a maximum of 24 races may well look quite fluid from year to year.
Venues will alternate with others and there could easily be more than 30 F1 races as Stefano Domenicali once predicted.
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With over 30 years of experience in Formula 1 as an insider journalist, I have built trusted connections across the paddock, from race engineers and mechanics to senior team figures. At The Judge 13, I and a handful of trusted colleagues share exclusive Formula 1 news, expert analysis and behind-the-scenes stories you will not find in mainstream motorsport media.
