F1’s Spanish Shake-up: Barcelona’s Last Lap, Madrid’s Fresh Start

The racing legacy of Barcelona

Since its inception, the Spanish Grand Prix has been held in several cities across the country, yet its first home was none other than Barcelona. The inaugural event was held in 1951 on the Pedralbes Circuit street track, a race at which Argentinian legend Juan Manuel Fangio secured his first F1 championship. Only two F1 races were ever held at Pedralbes, before the Spanish Grand Prix moved to Madrid in the 1960s. The Grand Prix alternated between Madrid and Barcelona through to the mid-80s and even made a brief five-year stop in the south of Spain in Jerez before settling into its longest-lasting home from 1991 to 2025: the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.

The Catalunya track is an all-arounder in every sense of the word. It has a healthy mix of high- and low-speed corners on a surface that is known to be particularly tough on tires. This puts F1 drivers to the test as they find themselves fighting not only against their competitors but also against the shredding rubber of their wheels. But apart from just its characteristics, the circuit has had great versatility in its uses as well. It has been a common location for F1 testing and filming days, is on the calendar for several other motorsport series including MotoGP, and was even used for cycling events during the 1992 Summer Olympics.

And in all its time in the F1 schedule, the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya has been the stage for some truly outstanding moments. Among the most memorable is Pastor Maldonado’s incredible 2012 win. Maldonado found himself on pole after Lewis Hamilton was sent to the very back of the grid for fuel sampling problems. He converted this into not just the first and only win of his career, but also Williams’s first win since 2004 and, as of writing, their last. But even more recently, the 2016 Spanish Grand Prix was where Max Verstappen landed his first Grand Prix win, setting the record for youngest race win ever and launching the career of a generational legend.

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An uncertain present for Barcelona’s future

Yet despite its history, as things stand right now the future of this track is uncertain. Although the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya has a grand prix contract until 2026, 2025 marks the final year that the Spanish Grand Prix will be held there as Madrid prepares to become the new host. While this means that 2026 will see F1 drivers racing in Spain twice–once in Madrid and once in Barcelona–what Barcelona’s grand prix will be called remains unknown.

But even more pressing than its new name is whether the Barcelona circuit will stay on the calendar after next year is likewise unclear. Regarding this, president of the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya and Catalonia's Minister for Business and Labor, Miquel Sàmper, has said, “What is clear is that we want to continue to organize this grand prix. It's obvious that we all know it's ending next year, and we're negotiating the extension of this contract.”

And with that, some sparks of hope do exist. Most notably, the circuit has recently extended its agreement to host the MotoGP Grand Prix of Catalonia through to 2031. Much like F1, MotoGP is owned by Liberty Media. As President of the company managing the circuit, Pau Relat, pointed out, “taking into account the quality of the infrastructure and the organizational capacity, this is a point in our favor.”

What’s more, the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya has recently named two-time World Champion and F1 legend Fernando Alonso as its official Ambassador. On this, Alonso has said, “It is an honor and a privilege, and I am very happy to be an ambassador for Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, which is so special to me and to all Spanish fans, and which has given us so much joy.”

He also commented on the future of the circuit, “In my opinion, it is imperative that Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya remains on the calendar, both for its facilities and for its tradition and roots in competition.”

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Madrid marks a new chapter

Yet despite the future of racing in Barcelona being uncertain, the future of racing in Spain does seem to be in promising hands. Construction has recently begun on the Madring, the circuit that will become home to the Spanish Grand Prix from next year on. The layout is set to incorporate characteristics of both permanent and street tracks, providing a mix of challenges for the drivers as they go through its 22 corners. A highlight of the track looks to be turn 12, dubbed La Monumental. This part of the track takes drivers through a 548 meter massive semicircle with 24% banking, and will surely become a star of the circuit.

But beyond just being a new challenge for drivers, the Madring is looking to become an exemplar of a modern circuit in line with the sport’s larger goals. Set to be built around the IFEMA MADRID Exhibition Centre, this will be one of the most accessible and sustainable  tracks on the F1 calendar. Its location means that visitors will be able to travel to it easily using a variety of public transport systems available in Madrid. Its facilities will also rely on 100% sustainable energy, with recyclable materials to be used for any temporary components of the track and paddock.

"I think we can be the best circuit in the world and the best event of the whole calendar," said Carlos Sainz. Sainz is a Madrid native, and is an Ambassador for the Madring.

And indeed, there is plenty of potential in the future of this circuit to match the impact of the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. At the same time, there is still plenty of potential in the future of racing in Barcelona. Indeed, 2026 will give us a preview of what it would be like to have two Spanish races on the calendar. But regardless of what happens, one thing is for certain: racing in Spain has an incredible history behind it, and a bright future ahead.