Madrid wants an F1 GP on a street circuit, but competition is tough

The battle on the track between drivers and teams is not the only noteworthy challenge in Formula 1 in recent years. The enormous growth in popularity that the sport is experiencing at an international level has in fact generated another type of particularly heartfelt competition: the one between Grands Prix organizers. In fact, more and more cities and venues want to become part of the Formula 1 business by trying to bring the F1 phenomena to their own homes. The competition is then made even more ruthless by the fact that there are limited places and that those who already host a GP have no intention of giving up the prize now that business is going in the right direction.

Formula 1 and the FIA have already dramatically expanded the race schedule but frankly it seems impossible to go beyond the 24-25 annual events. It is therefore necessary, for those who want to enter from outside, to ‘snatch’ a place from an already existing competition. The problems then increase if the location that wants to host the race is in Europe.

In fact, former Ferrari boss and current Formula 1 chief executive officer Stefano Domenicali confirmed several times that plans are clear: the goal is to have no more than a third of the events in Europe and then open up to the opportunities offered by non-European countries. Among those who dream of a place there is also the Spanish capital, Madrid. The city has been in contact with Formula 1 for some time and it is no coincidence that it will organize an official single-seater exhibition from 24 March 2023.

There are two options on the table: a city race or (but this is less probable) a return to the historic Jarama track.

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According to the Spanish newspaper AS, a realistic date for having a Madrid GP could be 2026, perhaps 2025. However, there are obstacles: in addition to having to defeat other candidates (Nice, Portimao, Nurburgring and Istanbul Park are all names interested in entering or return permanently to the calendar) – in fact there is also an economic component to deal with. It is not yet clear who should bear the huge costs which would include the construction and subsequent dismantling of a city track and the organization fee to be paid to Formula 1.

Furthermore, the entry of Madrid could only take place with the simultaneous exit from the calendar of Barcelona.