Catalonia loses the Formula 1 battle

Barcelona"As long as we have it, nobody else will." This phrase was often repeated by former president Artur Mas in debates and meetings about the future of Formula 1 in Catalonia. Since the Circuit de Montmeló – now the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya – hosted the race for the first time in 1991, the Catalan government considered it a priority to maintain the circus in Catalonia, even though the cost was high. But the various changes in government and F1's multi-million euro demands strained the situation and generated doubts among the organizers, who weren't entirely sure if it was really worth investing in this competition, even though the financial return was also very high.

The reduction in European races and the entry of Madrid, which after many years of effort has finally secured a place on the calendar, had put the Montmeló circuit in a difficult position. It had a contract until 2026 for around 28 million euros annually. From then on, it was a matter of negotiation. The initial objective was to maintain the race as before. But as the Circuit acknowledges, it was "very difficult to achieve," because F1 wants a maximum of eight races in Europe and, with very few exceptions, doesn't want two races in the same country.

In the end, Catalonia will have to settle for hosting the event every two years, alternating with Belgium, as previously announced The VanguardThe agreement is complete and only awaits the signing, which will take place in the coming weeks. "It's not what we initially wanted, but it's better than nothing," admit sources linked to the Circuit, who confirm there was a "real risk" of being completely left out of the calendar.

The lack of consensus is key to understanding the renewal with alternating schedules.

Once the agreement, which will last for six years until 2032, is announced, the Catalan government and the Circuit will present it as good news. But internally, those in the Montmeló offices know it represents a step backward, and that everything would be very different if the firm and decisive commitment to the competition had been maintained over the last decade. While Madrid presented a united front to secure a place on the calendar, the Circuit struggled to reach a consensus among all the stakeholders. "It seems they don't want us," the executives of Liberty Media, the American company that bought F1 in 2017, had said behind the scenes. This opened the door to Madrid's options, which until then had been minimal, especially considering that the last attempt to bring F1 to another location in Spain had failed.

In the end, the investment made to improve the facilities and adapt the Catalan circuit in terms of safety, thus meeting F1 requirements, will have only been partially worthwhile. Montmeló will host the Grands Prix in 2028, 2030, and 2032. Beyond that, it's uncertain. "The competition is fierce," they say at the Circuit, and they admit that the future of Formula 1 in Catalonia will also depend on the success of the race that will be held in Madrid starting in 2026.

Another step backward for Catalan motorsport

The fact that Formula 1 is held every two years is yet another disappointment for Catalan motorsport. In 2023, the Rally Catalunya - Costa Daurada, an event organized by the RACC (Royal Automobile Club of Catalonia), was dropped from the World Rally Championship calendar. After a two-year absence, Spain regained a World Rally Championship event, but in the Canary Islands, which will retain that status in 2026. Catalonia, which must settle for a rally within the European calendar, hopes to regain its place in 2027, but so far there is no firm agreement. Furthermore, the MotoGP race at Montmeló was seriously threatened for many months, although an agreement was finally reached for the Catalan Grand Prix to continue in the premier class of motorcycle racing, at least until 2031.