F1 News: Clash Of Two Circuits Anticipated After Formula 1 Signs New Venue

The former team owner has given out a warning over anticipated friction set to be caused between two different Grand Prix venues in the future.

Former F1 team owner Eddie Jordan anticipates that Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya and the new hybrid circuit in Madrid will clash to become the official venue for the Spanish Grand Prix in the future. 

Key Takeaways:

• Eddie Jordan foresees a rivalry between Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya and the new hybrid circuit in Madrid to secure the official venue for the Spanish Grand Prix in the future.
• The new hybrid circuit in Madrid, featuring both street and permanent areas, has inked a ten-year contract with Formula 1 from 2026 onwards, potentially leaving Barcelona out of the F1 calendar.
• Jordan suggests that replacing Barcelona with Madrid could upset locals, citing historical significance and political divisions. He anticipates friction in the transition but acknowledges the appeal of hosting a Grand Prix in major cities like Madrid.

The new hybrid circuit in Madrid, which constitutes street areas and permanent non-street areas, signed a ten-year contract with Formula 1 to host Grands Prix from 2026. While it is unclear if the race will be called the Spanish GP or the Madrid GP, Barcelona could be left out of the F1 calendar. 

Ferrari Press Image

The two locations in Spain are roughly six hours apart. Thus, the existence of Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya as an F1 venue remains a question mark. Though Barcelona will continue to host races until 2026, Jordan believes that a replacement of Barcelona by Madrid could make the locals “very upset”.

Speaking on the Formula For Success Podcast, Jordan said: 

“We have for I don’t know how many years, 20 years, 30 years, been to Barcelona to the new track when they went out on a limb after Barcelona had the Olympics.

“If you remember, they built a track, and it has been a really good track and there has been a lot of Spanish drivers as a result of it.

“And of course, we all know that [Fernando] Alonso is still there. But he comes from [Asturias, sic], which is the North West.

“I think the people of Catalan, which we already know that there’s big rifts in that country with different political views, and I think that they will be very upset.

“They’ll be very upset, no different to we’ll say, Melbourne taking the Grand Prix from Adelaide."

He added:

“I think there will be friction, I think it’s not going to go terribly smoothly. But is it the right thing to do? I think if it’s a street circuit in a major city like Madrid, I think it’s perfect.

"Madrid is a very beautiful city, as indeed is Barcelona, so they’re very blessed. They’ve got two amazing venues there.

"Motor racing has caught everybody’s eye. Everybody wants a Grand Prix now and the cities, and I’m not talking just about Madrid, we can talk about New York or London or Rome or Vancouver or other major cities that could put on a Grand Prix.”

IFEMA - Madrid Grand Prix

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