Madrid Signs 10-year Deal To Join Formula 1 Calendar From 2026

‘Hala Madrid!’. The Spanish capital has been announced as the newest track to join Formula 1 from 2026. This was after a proposal by IFEMA Madrid was given the green light by the sport.

The contract runs from 2026 to 2035 and will see the city host the Spanish Grand Prix for 10 years. The race has been held at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya since 1991.

“Madrid is an incredible city with amazing sporting and cultural heritage, and today’s announcement begins an exciting new chapter for F1 in Spain,” Stefano Domenicali, President and CEO of Formula 1 told F1.com. 

What Characteristics Will The Track Incorporate?

The 5.47km track will be built around the IFEMA Convention Centre. Don’t be fooled by what the promoter says, it’s a street circuit despite them saying it will feature ‘street and non-street sections.

We can expect the track to feature 20 corners and a projected lap time of around a minute and a half. It’ll feature a combination of slow, medium, and fast corners. In the interest of making the race entertaining and encouraging overtaking, we are likely to see a couple of long straights and big braking zones.

F1’s Head of Vehicle Performance Craig Wilson said of the track proposal: “It’s a layout that features everything from fast sweeps to tight chicanes, and lengthy straights to short bursts of the throttle, offering a varied experience for those behind the wheel. “I think it will be a good challenge for the drivers.”

Understandably the circuit still needs to be homologated by the FIA and receive the all-clear from its final design specification.

What’s In It For The Fans?

The location of the track was an important part of the promoter’s plan as it’s centrally located and accessible for fans via the metro, train, and buses.

It’s a five-minute drive from the Madrid-Barajas Adolfo Suarez airport which is a major boon for travelers from overseas or those making their way to the capital from Europe.

Initially, the area can accommodate 110,000 fans per day across the grandstand, general admission, and VIP hospitality.
The fans will also get to see the next generation of Formula 1 cars as the sport plans to introduce smaller, lighter, and more agile cars that will see their power units benefit from more electrical power.

Money, Money, Money

There’s no denying that Formula 1 is one of the hottest sporting tickets in the world right now.

In December 2023, Las Vegas hosted its first F1 race for decades and hit the jackpot. According to the American Press, the race garnered over 315,000 people over four nights, and the promoter, LVGP, said the economic impact to the area was $1.2 billion.

Madrid stands to cash in on the popularity of the sport after securing the rights to host the Spanish Grand Prix. Isabel Diaz Ayuso, President of the Region of Madrid said: “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 8200 jobs.”

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