Madrid instead of Barcelona: Behind the move of the Spanish Grand Prix lies Formula 1’s evolution from a car race to a major event
For 35 years, Barcelona was home to the Spanish Grand Prix. Formula 1 has been held at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya without interruption since 1991. In 2026, Madrid will take over the Spanish Grand Prix – but why?
The simple explanation that Madrid outbid Barcelona with more money does not tell the whole story. It is not officially known how much Madrid is paying Formula 1 for its contract from 2026 to 2035. Nor is there any indication that Formula 1 was fundamentally dissatisfied with the circuit in Barcelona. Rather, the decisive factor is the overall package that Madrid offered.
The new ‘Madring’ circuit was built around the IFEMA exhibition centre and is located just 16 kilometres from the city centre and only a few kilometres from Madrid-Barajas Airport. The site is served by the metro, rail and bus services. When the contract was awarded, it was estimated that around 90 per cent of spectators would be able to travel there by public transport. Keyword: sustainability.
Where Madrid has the edge over Barcelona
This is an advantage over Barcelona. There, the rush of visitors in 2022 in particular caused massive traffic problems and long queues. Formula 1 described the situation at the time as “unacceptable”. Barcelona subsequently responded with improvements.
However, Madrid’s commercial potential is even more important. The IFEMA event spaces are available around the circuit. They offer space for hospitality, VIP facilities, sponsor activities and entertainment. In the first phase of development, there are to be 110,000 grandstand seats, rising later to 140,000.
This is precisely what Formula 1 under Liberty Media is increasingly focusing on: a Grand Prix should no longer be merely a car race, but a major event spanning several days. Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali explained at the time of the award that Madrid fits in with the vision of a spectacle combining sport and entertainment. He envisages “a multi-day sporting and entertainment spectacle” that “offers fans maximum value and encompasses innovation and sustainability”.
The city itself will also form part of the product: the airport, hotels, restaurants and leisure facilities are practically on the doorstep. Added to this is a long-term contract running up to and including 2035.
Are circuits like Barcelona a thing of the past?
So has Barcelona lost out? Only partly. Barcelona represents the traditional Grand Prix model: a permanent circuit outside the city, with the event receiving strong public support. Madrid, by contrast, promises an event more tailored to hospitality and additional revenue streams.
However, Barcelona has since responded: the circuit and hospitality facilities have been modernised, and commercial marketing reorganised. And Formula 1 is sticking with the circuit: After 2026, races will also take place there in 2028, 2030 and 2032, though no longer as the ‘Spanish Grand Prix’ but as the ‘Barcelona-Catalonia Grand Prix’ – and on a rotational basis with Spa-Francorchamps.
This makes it clear: Madrid has not ousted Barcelona from Formula 1. Above all, Madrid has stripped Barcelona of its status as Spain’s most important Formula 1 host.
Why? Because Madrid offers exactly what modern Formula 1 is looking for: a city centre location, good accessibility, extensive hospitality facilities, entertainment and great commercial potential. The decisive factor was therefore apparently not just which circuit is better – but also what can be organised and sold around that circuit.
