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Red Bull has already presented its cars in Madrid in 2023
Photo: Diego Radames / Europa Press / Getty Images
Formula 1 will be in Madrid again from 2026.
The Spanish capital signed a contract until 2035, the organizers announced.
There has been speculation about Madrid's entry for some time.
From 1968 to 1981 there were nine Formula 1 races at the “Circuito del Jarama” near Madrid.
The “Circuit de Catalunya-Barcelona” near the Catalan metropolis has been on the calendar since 1991, and the contract there is valid until 2026.
There could be two races in Spain in 2026.
The new track in Madrid will be 5.47 kilometers long with 20 corners and will be partly a street circuit around the trade fair, near Real Madrid's training ground and around 16 kilometers from the city center.
Some sections will also be open to road traffic outside of race weekends.
Long-term planning, less tradition
Initially, up to 110,000 fans should be able to come per day.
An expansion of capacity to up to 140,000 places is planned for the first half of the contract, it said.
According to calculations, the Grand Prix is expected to bring in 450 million euros per year for the Madrid economy.
With the multi-year contract for Madrid, the American Formula 1 owners are continuing the trend for long-term planning security.
They are also continuing to focus more on city races.
Miami was only added in 2021, and Las Vegas was added last year.
In 2024, eight of 24 races will be held on non-permanent racetracks.
Because of this, Formula 1 loses the traditional race in Barcelona.
According to Spanish media, organizers there had hoped to extend the contract beyond 2026.
The new Formula 1 season starts in Bahrain at the beginning of March, and in Europe the entourage will stop for the first time in Italy in May.
The new world champion will be determined at the race in Abu Dhabi in December 2024 at the latest.
ast/dpa/sid