(Motorsport) The Spanish Grand Prix held at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya will remain in the Formula 1 calendar for the foreseeable future after a deal was agreed until 2026. The race track will also be upgraded along with the facilities in time for next year’s Grand Prix which will be held on 22nd May as a part of the deal.
F1 President and CEO Stefano Domenicali said: “We are delighted to announce this deal with Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. I want to thank the promoter and the authorities for their enthusiasm and commitment to keeping Formula 1 in Barcelona, with improvements that will be made to the track and facilities, and continuing our long history together. The teams and drivers always look forward to racing at the circuit and visiting Barcelona, and the Spanish fans will continue to see their national heroes, Fernando Alonso and Carlos Sainz up close.”
The Spanish GP will be the sixth race in the 23-Grand Prix Formula 1 calendar and the new contract contains a commitment that the track will become “a model and world benchmark of sustainability” as F1 gears towards a net-zero carbon goal by 2030. MotoGP has also renewed it’s agreement with the circuit until 2026 and at least two or more F1 events will be held at the venue between 2023-2026. Earlier this year, the Spanish Grand Prix saw Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton finish first ahead of rival Max Verstappen
Roger Torrent, the Catalan minister of business and labour and Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya President said: “We welcome the renewal of this contract, which includes a mutual commitment clause to help us turn Circuit Barcelona-Catalunya into a model and world benchmark of sustainability applied to this type of facilities. We want the circuit to become an exponent of the green transformation and the adaptation of infrastructures to the demands of the climate emergency.”
The track has been a regular feature in the Formula 1 calendar since it opened in 1991 but the outdated facilities needed improving in order to ensure that it remains as a go-to venue, especially with new tracks in contention at the likes of Miami, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. Apart from the sport, the circuit is also extensively used for testing and the Catalan government has previously said that hosting a race at the venue is worth €200million (£169million) to the local economy. Therefore a deal with Formula 1 would not only ensure the obligations to improve its facilities will be met but also provide a financial boost for the local economy.
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