DUBAI: Agreement has been reached between IFEMA MADRID and F1 which grants Madrid the right to host the Spanish Grand Prix from 2026. The official announcement was made on 23rd January by Stefano Domenicali, President and CEO of F1, and José Vicente de los Mozos, Chairman of the Executive Committee of IFEMA MADRID, at an event led by Isabel Díez Ayuso, President of the Community of Madrid and of the Governing Board of IFEMA MADRID, along with José Luis Martínez-Almeida, Mayor of Madrid, and Ángel Asensio, President of the Madrid Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Services, both Vice-Presidents of the IFEMA MADRID Governing Board. The presentation also brought together a large group of representatives from the world of sport, business and institutions, as well as national and international media.
The return of F1 to Madrid will take effect in 2026, and will extend over a period of ten years, until 2035. It is, therefore, a very long-term contract, which will provide, among other advantages, the necessary horizon to ensure the return on investment and consequently favours the economic viability of this important project, undertaken exclusively with private capital.
The project presented by IFEMA MADRID to F1 to become the venue and promoter of the Spanish Grand Prix is based on its proven capacity to host large-scale events; organisational flexibility; financial solvency; and the versatility, equipment and perfect location of its venues, among other important competitive advantages.
A new paradigm of sporting experience and event
The conceptualisation of the new circuit combines sport and spectacle, which will make it a benchmark on the international calendar. The technical draft of the circuit concept and its facilities, developed by Dromo, and pending FIA homologation, comprises, as explained by Jarno Zaffelli, founder and CEO of Dromo, a 5.474 km long track, 20 curves, a qualifying lap of 1 minute and 32 seconds, and a maximum speed of 300 km/h and 218 km/h average.
The route would use the roads of IFEMA MADRID, both the current fairgrounds and the future roads of the Valdebebas site, as well as just 1.5 km of public roads. The project will benefit from exceptional facilities, never before imagined at the service of a Grand Prix: more than 200,000 m2 of characteristic covered pavilions; 10,000 metres of multi-purpose meeting spaces, and 10,000 parking spaces. All the infrastructures are equipped with the latest technology and advanced security, communication and air-conditioning systems that will make it possible to raise the standards of the experience for both participants and passionate Formula 1 fans, creating spaces never before seen in the competition, such as a covered and air-conditioned paddock or large areas for activating experiences for fans.
The materialisation of the project will in turn add new buildings to the site, such as two buildings that will extend halls 1 and 2 to house the more exclusive Paddock Club, among other infrastructures, which will be operated and marketed by IFEMA MADRID for its regular activity during the rest of the year. Regarding the attendance capacity, it is estimated to start with 110,000 spectators, to exceed 140,000 in the fifth year.
