The rivalry between Barcelona and Madrid, Madrid and Barcelona, has been ancestral, in politics, economics, culture and sports. Now this power struggle returns to the scene on the battlefield of Formula 1 with the announcement of a Spanish Grand Prix in Madrid starting in 2026 and until 2035. Thus, in 2026 the two grand prix in Spain, since it is the last year of the Circuit de Montmeló contract. But, what about beyond 2026? Barcelona and Catalonia assure that they will continue in the World Cup and Stefano Domenicali opens the door to the cohabitation of the two capitals.
The president of the Generalitat of Catalonia, Pere Aragonès, expressed in the press conference after the Executive Council the Government's will to extend the contract with Formula 1.
"In Catalonia we work for Catalonia. Beyond the fact that the F1 organization can reach agreements with other cities, we continue working to extend beyond 2026 the championship that has already been held in Catalonia for more than 30 years. The work is being positive "We are moving forward. We are working to improve the opportunities of Catalonia without comparing ourselves to anyone," said the president.
The Government defends that it continues negotiating to extend the contract with Formula 1. The Minister of Business and Work, and president of the Circuit, Roger Torrent, insists that in Montmeló there is "tranquility" due to the continuity of the GP in Barcelona and that the "conversations to extend F1 are evolving positively".
Barcelona City Council, governed by Jaume Collboni (PSC), maintains its commitment to the Circuit and has expressed its "political, institutional and economic support throughout the negotiations led by the Government of the Generalitat."
The Barcelona City Council has been a traveling companion of the Generalitat and the RACC in financing the Spanish GP in Montmeló, and contributed 3 million euros annually in 2017, but reduced its contribution during Ada Colau's mandate.
Faced with the threat from Madrid, Barcelona has expressed its willingness to "increase the current economic contribution to guarantee the competitiveness of the facilities" of the Montmeló circuit.
Likewise, as requested by the Circuit and also by Formula 1, Barcelona would be willing to get more involved in the organization of the Grand Prix, "bringing the competition closer to citizens with events and spaces, open to everyone, to bring F1 closer to the general public. ".
Can there be two races in Spain? Stefano Domenicali was asked in Madrid at the end of the presentation of the new Spanish GP on a semi-urban circuit around Ifema. "Why not," responded the Italian president, once the event was over.
The head of F1 does not rule out that the two grand prix could coexist in Spain, as is already happening in Italy between the Imola and Monza races, or as happened between Barcelona and Valencia in the 2008-12 period.
"Barcelona is incredible, because Oriol Sagrera [CEO of the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya] is an incredible person and is doing an extraordinary job for Barcelona. Barcelona is Formula 1 and work is being done to look beyond" [2026], He praised the work being done at the Circuit de Barcelona, which has hosted F1 since 1991.
Regarding coexistence with Madrid, Domenicali pointed out that “Spain deserves to be able to have an opportunity to further increase its presence in the future, therefore we are working, we will see soon.”
Domenicali considers that the new Madrid Grand Prix is “complementary” to that of Barcelona. “We must not forget that we are very strong in Barcelona,” he commented in his speech at the presentation in Madrid.
In an interview published on the official Formula 1 website, Domenicali reflects on the possibility of coexistence, given the resurgence of the fans in Spain, with two drivers like Fernando Alonso and Carlos Sainz. “To avoid doubts and clarify the matter, the fact of being in Madrid does not exclude the fact that we could be in Barcelona in the future,” commented the Italian.
“Looking to the future, there are ongoing negotiations to see if we can expand our relationship with Barcelona, with which we have a very good relationship,” he said.
