Revolution in racing: Spain GP dares to move to Madrid!

Revolution in racing: Spain GP dares to move to Madrid!

Madrid, Spanien - Formula 1 caused a stir with its latest announcement: the Grand Prix of Spain, which has been traditionally held in Barcelona since 1991, will no longer take place there from the 2026 season. Instead, the race moves to the new Madring (Circuito de Madring) in Madrid. This marks the first time since 1990 that the Spanish Grand Prix is not held in the Catalan capital, such as Laola1 reported.

The move to Madrid is part of the revised racing calendar, which was published for the 2026 season and comprises a total of 24 races. FIA and Formula 1 have announced that the calendar start with the Australian Grand Prix will take place from March 6 to 8, 2026 and that the end of the season at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix from December 4th to 6th will take place. The race in Madrid will remain in the F1 calendar for at least the next ten years, since the contract with the Circuit de Catalunya expires after 2026.

changes in Spain racing format

Total two races will be held in Spain in 2026. The race already planned in Montmelo will be named as “Grand Prix de Barcelona-Catalunya” next year. In the past, two Grand Prix took place in various cities in 1994 and 1997: Barcelona and Jerez. In addition, a race was held in Valencia from 2008 to 2012.

The Spanish driver Carlos Sainz has recently spoken out for another race in Barcelona, which is considering the discussion about the relocation of the Grand Prix. Despite the news, the interest in the races in Spain remains high.

sustainability and innovations in the technology

Formula 1 is also preparing for a change in technology. From 2026, new technical regulations and 100% advanced sustainable fuel will be introduced. This development is part of the endeavor to create a CO2-neutral future, as described by Motorsport.com . However, this challenge is complex, since the fuel suppliers fight the special requirements of Formula 1 with the adaptation of the combustion properties.

The switch to sustainable fuels is not without challenges. In particular, the use of ethanol as a biocomponent turned out to be more difficult than initially assumed. However, the innovation platform Motorsport is considered a key to testing new fuels that could also be used in the automotive industry in the near future.

The introduction of these sustainable solutions is supported by companies such as Shell who use modern technologies and digital simulations in order to promote the development of new fuels. In 2021 over a million simulations were carried out to optimize the properties of new fuels and adapt to the high requirements of Formula 1.

Overall, the 2026 season marks an important turning point in the history of Formula 1, which is not only associated with the shift of the Grand Prix of Spain, but also with a pioneering change to sustainable fuels. The F1 community will look forward to an exciting and innovative period, while it will go to five of the seven continents, as it is in the calendar presentation of Formula 1 is recorded.