Fernando Alonso allies with Catalonia

BarcelonaFormula 1 arrives this weekend at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya with many uncertainties about the future of the competition in Montmeló. For now, there is an agreement until 2026, and negotiations are underway to extend the contract for several more years. However, the arrival of Madrid on the calendar is a thorn in the side because it is very rare for a country to host two World Championship events. However, the managers of the Catalan track are optimistic and trust that the talks will come to a successful conclusion.

To this end, the Circuit has a strong ally: Fernando Alonso. The Asturian driver, two-time world champion, has signed an agreement to become an ambassador for the Catalan track. His role is to promote the Catalan facility internationally and help train promising young drivers in the world of motorsports. In this way, Alonso makes the competence Carlos Sainz, since the Madrid-born driver, now with the Williams team, recently became the ambassador for the track being built in the Spanish capital.

Alonso doesn't just put his face on the line. He also puts his words on the line. He believes it's "mandatory" for F1 to continue in Catalonia, "both for its facilities and for its tradition and roots in the competition." The Asturian considers it a "historic track, with a great tradition in F1 and where the history of this sport has been written."

The Asturian driver, now with the Aston Martin team, recalled his first time in a single-seater at Montmeló, when he was still competing in karting. "It's a circuit closely linked to my career. It's definitely the one I've driven the most laps on in my entire life, from F1 preseason testing to the races and other activities that have taken place."