“Two races in Spain? Why not? Barcelona is F1,” said Stefano Domenicali, CEO of Formula 1, during the presentation of the future Spanish Grand Prix in Madrid from 2026. This Tuesday, seven days after the official announcement in IFEMA, Barcelona Circuit – Catalunya I gathered a group of journalists in the capital to take stock of the past few months, recount the significant improvements and investments made on Montmelo Road, and of course comment on the rabid news. Among the conclusions reached from this informal meeting, two can be highlighted: The competition between the two Spanish Formula 1 projects was positive, and forced both to raise the bar; And the arena gap in the calendar after 2026 has by no means been filled by Madrid.
most responsible, Oriol Sagrera (Chief Executive Officer of the Department and Secretary General of the Public Company) and Jose Luis Santamaria (Director General of the Department) They convey reassurance. There is no rush to renew, because They have a contract for three more editions (2024, 2025 and 2026), but good harmony with Domenicali, regardless of whether Madrid reaches a successful outcome. There is also no unhealthy competition, they respect the IFEMA plan. There is room for two very different events in Spain. If eight or nine European races fit into the 24 GP calendar, Barcelona sees many possibilities and FOM is listening carefully.
They explained that the title of the Grand Prix for the 2026 edition, when the Spanish Grand Prix will be held in Madrid, has not yet been determined. This will not happen soon. Whether it is Barcelona, Catalonia, both or Europe, will be discussed later. However, due to the nationalist connection of the current government in the state, they never had the possibility to designate a Formula 1 race exclusively for the Catalan region or the city of Barcelona.
An ambitious renovation project
Among the new features, Sagrera and Santamaría describe the final steps of An ambitious renovation project in the department. Currently, the pit building has been turned upside down to install mechanical curtains between the garages (the teams requested more space), soundproof VIP boxes or a 6,000 square meter covered terrace. The observation tower was also renovated, just as the video scoreboard was replaced before or photovoltaic panels were installed in the main grandstand. The crown jewel is yet to come: The “Circuit Rooftop” will be a structure that crosses the track before Turn 10 and connects the circuit to the stadium with hospitality spaces, as well as a rooftop terrace with great views. The building is scheduled to be ready for the next Spanish Grand Prix on June 23 in Montmelo. These are the reforms demanded by the 33-year-old path.
The Circuit is a semi-public company owned by Generalitat, RACC and the Montmelo City Council. They stated that the investment in these four years to renovate the facilities amounts to 50 million euros. Their money is public and they're not shy about it: each race has an impact worth €250 million in the Barcelona metropolitan area. Tax collection (VAT, hotel taxes) is close to $60 million. It generates direct and indirect employment opportunities and includes Barcelona in the exclusive list of cities hosting the Grand Prix. Tickets for the Spanish F1 GP are bordering on 'no tickets', waiting for the last places to go on sale. As for the Catalan GP motorcycles, the sale is improving the 2023 numbers at this time of year, although the pace is different. Formula 1 is a fundamental pillar of the circuit's future, which is why they are showing their commitment to keeping it going for many more years. No matter what happens in Madrid.
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