Breaking: F1 To Lose Another Traditional Track As Spanish Grand Prix Set To Move To Madrid

Tuesday, 05 December 2023 at 15:00

Formula One is set to lose another traditional circuit amid negotiations to move the Spanish Grand Prix from Barcelona to Madrid.

Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya has been part of the F1 calendar ever since 1991 and celebrated its 20th anniversary two years ago in 2021.

The circuit hosted the traditional, highly anticipated Spanish Grand Prix. However, things might be about to change, as revealed by elmundo.es.

It is suggested that negotiations are taking place with Madrid to move the Spanish Grand Prix to a new street circuit located right in the city.

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El Mundo suggests we could see the Formula cars in Madrid as early as 2026 with a 10-year-long contract. The race would take place around Ifema and Valdebebas.

According to @RBR_Daily, the mayor of Madrid recently spoke on the topic of negotiations with F1, saying: "The negotiations on F1 and Madrid are going reasonably well." See the potential new circuit layout:

RBR Daily

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🚨 | BREAKING : A Madrid Grand Prix at a street circuit in IFEMA is looking very likely by each day José Luis Martínez-Almeida, mayor of Madrid said: "The negotiations on F1 and Madrid are going reasonably well."

Possible Layout of the street race Via Relevo

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While many fans like street circuit races because they it does not require traveling to remote locations outside the city, multiple drivers expressed disagreement with the increasing numbers of F1 street circuits.

Most recently, Max Verstappen criticized the Las Vegas Strip Circuit for not being able to provide a racing spectacle ahead of the Las Vegas Grand Prix, saying it was more for show than for racing.

Verstappen explained Formula One cars are not built to be driven in the City streets but rather on dedicated racing circuits like Spa or Monza that allow drivers to extract maximum potential out of their cars.

While the race in Vegas ended up being one of the closest and most thrilling action-packed races of the 2023 season, Fernando Alonso agreed with Verstappen after the race, saying it was not enjoyable for him.

Some drivers like Charles Leclerc, on the other hand, love street circuits, so we expect the new circuit to meet with mixed reactions from F1 drivers.