The celebration of F1 in Catalonia has become a delicate issue since it was officially announced, following months of rumors, that Madrid will host the Spanish Grand Prix at IFEMA starting in 2026. The event is held at the Circuit de Barcelona -Catalonia since 1991, more than 30 years ago. Saving Formula 1 in Catalonia is a priority for all Catalan authorities. “It is very important to position Catalonia in the world and it has a very large indirect economic return – of regarding 200 million euros, according to data from the Department of Business and Labor – and that is why there is a global fight,” said the Minister of Company, Roger Torrent, on RAC1 and TV3. The circuit has been in the red for years, despite the injections of public money, but Torrent has assured that “it is the best stable circuit in Europe and probably in the world, recovering the best attendance figures.” In the midst of the negotiations, a survey by the Center for Opinion Studies (CEO) maintains that 68% of those surveyed agree or strongly agree with maintaining support for F1 and 69% for MotoGP. Only CUP voters, with 46%, do not support it. In the words of the advisor: “This is the best letter of introduction to F1 and the world.”
This Wednesday Torrent was “very optimistic” regarding the possibilities of Catalonia hosting a Formula 1 Grand Prix beyond 2026, when the contract with Liberty Media, owner of the competition, ends. “We are convinced that F1 will continue for many years in Catalonia,” he confided. Torrent has promised “the next two best GPs, because it is the greatest guarantee for a future relationship.” Despite ruling out that the influence exerted by the capital is going to be decisive in “the excellent relations” with Stefano Domenicali, president and CEO of the premier category, the head of Business has acknowledged that “there is a lot of pressure and competitiveness in general because only Madrid wants a GP.” “There are pushes to achieve it, but Catalonia and Barcelona are very competitive,” he added.
The president of the Generalitat, Pere Aragonès, followed the same line, who assured that the negotiations “are advancing” without comparing himself “with anyone.” “We work for Catalonia, beyond the fact that the F1 organization can reach agreements with other cities. We seek to build our own references,” said Aragonès. Sources from the Business and Labor department highlight the “existing complicity with the City Council and the Provincial Council to make possible the extension of the relationship with F1.”
Barcelona City Council, for its part, is willing to increase the contribution to the Circuit – according to sources from the council, it is not yet possible to specify how much it would be – to guarantee the competitiveness of the facility and this has been conveyed by Mayor Jaume Collboni ( PSC) to the Generalitat. “Barcelona will do everything in its power to revalidate F1 in Montmeló due to its importance for the fabric of the Vallès Oriental and we will make more efforts if the Generalitat asks us to,” said Collboni in a speech in which he defended the celebration. of major sporting events in the city.
Barcelona’s contribution to the Circuit had been reduced in recent years under the government of Ada Colau. In 2016 it was two million euros, compared to three in 2017, but in 2018 the figure already fell to two and a half million, reaching one and a half in 2019. “F1 is not a priority,” Colau said in 2015. And he added: “4,500 dining scholarships, which have the same annual amount as the F1 subsidy, have been left unattended this year.” On the other hand, the CEO’s survey shows that 51% of the supporters of the commons also support the event in a percentage higher than that given to the Moto GP (49%) or the Copa América (47%) and lower than that of the Cycling Tour of Spain (56%).
As long as there is no renewal, the end of the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya contract, in 2026, will coincide with the beginning of Liberty Media’s agreement with Madrid, which extends until 2035. Both locations must coexist and two grand prix will be held in Spain in the 2026 season. At the presentation of the Grand Prix in Madrid, Domenicalli opened the door for the first time for Madrid and Catalonia to coincide on the calendar. The unknown is what will happen following 2027. “Barcelona and F1 continue working to look further,” said the Italian.
The Circuit de Barcelona-Cataluña pays 22 million euros a year to host the Formula 1 Grand Prix, in a venue that has been in the red for years, despite attempts to diversify its income beyond the MotoGP event. and that of F1. In recent years, the Generalitat of Catalonia has increased the amount allocated to the Barcelona circuit in the annual budgets: in 2023, 63 million euros were dedicated, public financing that has been strongly questioned by political groups such as the CUP and En Comú-Podem .
Losing the name of the Spanish Grand Prix “is not important”
With the arrival of F1 in Madrid, the only thing that is certain is that the Catalan event will lose the name of Spanish Grand Prix. Therefore, a different formula must be found than the one used for more than 30 years. One option would be to adopt the Catalan Grand Prix, as is done in MotoGP. Roger Torrent has downplayed the issue, because “the organization has always been willing to change the name.” “It’s not urgent, it would be like starting the house from the roof,” he concluded. “We hope that F1 continues on the Circuit for a few more years.”
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