The Catalonia government’s business minister remains “convinced” that Barcelona will remain on the Formula 1 calendar beyond the expiration of its current contract in 2026.
Madrid’s announcement that it would host the Spanish Grand Prix from 2026 with a semi-permanent venue means two rounds will be run in Spain in a single calendar year.
While the press release omitted a mention of Barcelona’s future, Catalonia’s Business Minister Roger Torrent is confident the region’s purpose-built F1 venue can extend its stay.
“I am convinced that there will be a renewal of the contract,” he told Catalan radio station RAC1.
“We have an excellent relationship with Formula 1 and we are working on that basis. We will have two fantastic grands prix.”
Admitting the “the name is not important” in response to Madrid taking the Spanish GP title, Torrent was more focused on negotiating a lengthy contract extension.
“For us, the longer the better,” he added. “There is a lot of pressure in general and a lot of competitiveness, but Formula 1 is comfortable with us. And we don’t pay attention to others.”
Meanwhile, F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has also expressed support for Barcelona’s continued inclusion in the calendar beyond the terms of its current agreement.
“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,” the Italian told F1.com.
An important factor in ensuring Barcelona’s F1 survival is updating its facilities and infrastructure, a mandate that Domenicali has made to numerous classic F1 venues.
Along with the iconic Monza circuit that hosts the Italian Grand Prix, the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya is also undergoing a revamp to modernise the surrounding areas.
“We are modernising the facilities, the infrastructure, which was already needed,” said Torrent.
“We are turning it into the best permanent circuit in Europe and probably in the world.”
Revamps and a competing Spanish GP aside, the most important factor in Barcelona’s negotiations is its relationship with F1.
“We have been talking for a long time, but we follow our own rhythm,” Torrent continyed.
“The relationship between Formula 1 and Catalonia will be decided only by Formula 1 and Catalonia.
“There is no element that makes us go faster or puts us under more pressure.
“In 2024 we will have a grand prix and as Domenicali himself has recognised, our excellent relationship is the basis that makes us work on the renewal that I am convinced will occur.”
In 2026, F1 will race twice in Spain for the first time since 2012, when the Spanish GP took place in Barcelona and the European GP was held at the Valencia Street Circuit.
The five-year coexistence between Valencia and Barcelona proves that Madrid can share the floor with another Spanish-based F1 race, as does the fact F1 races in three venues a year in the United States of America (Miami, Austin, Vegas) and two Italian venues per year (Imola, Monza).
However, an ever-increasing F1 calendar and competing interests from other regions such as South Africa will work against Barcelona’s cause.
Discussion about this post