F1 has officially designated IFEMA MADRID as the organiser of the Spanish Grand Prix from 2026 onwards
The agreement spans 10 years of competition, from 2026 to 2035, and its celebration will result in annual revenues of 450 million euros for Madrid.
The draft circuit concept, pending FIA homologation, will be 5.474 km long, with 20 corners and a qualifying lap of 1 minute and 32 seconds.
Madrid aims to develop a new paradigm that will combine sport and spectacle, making it a memorable experience. The premise is that it will be sustainable both economically, financed by private investment, and environmentally.
An agreement has been reached between IFEMA MADRID and F1 which grants Madrid the right to host the Spanish Grand Prix from 2026. The announcement was made 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.
In addition, the Grand Prix will exceed F1’s sustainability requirements, with the proposal of a carbon neutral event, fully aligned with F1’s sustainability, diversity and inclusion policy. In this sense, accessibility is one of the most valued and differential points. With the starting point at the IFEMA MADRID facilities, it will be the best connected by public transport of the entire competition, with a hitherto unknown accessibility. Integrated in the city itself, 5 minutes from the airport and with access to an efficient transport network, with the Metro at the foot of the circuit, local trains and city buses, it has been estimated that up to 90% of the fans will access the venue by public transport.
Why Madrid in the F1 World Championship?
But undoubtedly the main argument for the decision to bring the Spanish Grand Prix back to Madrid has been the set of characteristics offered by the city and its region, such as its lifestyle, its extensive cultural and leisure agenda, its fine cuisine, its hotel facilities and its hospitality, as well as the safety and quality of its services. Madrid, in turn, will be impregnated with multiple activities and entertainment initiatives linked to F1, coinciding with the celebration of the Grand Prix from 2026.
In this regard, and taking into account the estimate of the more than 85,000 tourists that would land in the Region on the occasion of the celebration of an F1 Grand Prix, and according to the preliminary study carried out by the consultancy firm Deloitte, its celebration would mean annual income for Madrid of more than 450 million euros, with an impact on job creation of more than 8,200 jobs, to which would be added the relevance of its contribution in terms of brand image, with annual audiences of more than 1,550 million.
Stefano Domenicali, President and CEO of Formula 1, said:
“Madrid is an incredible city with amazing sporting and cultural heritage, and today’s announcement begins an exciting new chapter for F1 in Spain. I would like to thank the team at IFEMA MADRID, the Regional Government of Madrid and the city’s Mayor for putting together a fantastic proposal. It truly epitomises Formula 1’s vision to create a multi-day spectacle of sport and entertainment that delivers maximum value for fans and embraces innovation and sustainability.”
José Vicente de los Mozos, President of the Executive Committee of IFEMA MADRID, said:
“Our dream of hosting a major F1 event around IFEMA MADRID has come true. We are thrilled to announce the return of F1 to Madrid after more than four decades. We have the ambition to organise a Grand Prix that will become a reference in the F1 worldwide calendar, specifically conceptualized and designed to offer a distinctive and unique experience for both fans and teams participating in the competition. With this, Madrid wants to deep dive into the development of a new concept that combines sport and entertainment, while delivering a memorable event.”
Isabel Díaz Ayuso, President of the Region of Madrid, said:
“It is with great satisfaction that we announce Formula 1 is coming to the Community of Madrid, to a region and a capital that inspires openness and confidence within and beyond our borders. We are the main engine of Spain´s prosperity and progress. This event, which we expect to be followed on a global scale by 70 million people, will represent an increase of more than 450 million euros in Madrid’s GDP per year and the creation of 8,200 jobs. The Community of Madrid is a region with a great international projection, open, plural and competitive, and F1 will contribute to further consolidate the Madrid brand among the best in the world.”
José Luis Martínez-Almeida, Mayor of Madrid, said:
“With the announcement of the Grand Prix, Madrid moves into the future and joins the exclusive group of cities hosting F1 today, placing us at the forefront of the world’s capitals in attracting major events. We know that F1 is more than a race, it is an unprecedented opportunity to drive the transformation that Madrid is undergoing, and to show the world what we are capable of. I am confident that Madrid will be up to the task, not only because we deserve a spectacle of the magnitude of F1, but also because F1 deserves a city with the energy, character, and passion of Madrid.”
Angel Asensio, President of the Madrid Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Services, said:
“The Chamber of Commerce of Madrid celebrates the agreement that consolidates the city as the venue for a Formula 1 Grand Prix, considering it a collective success. They highlight its sporting, cultural, social, economic and business impact, generating a multiplier effect in various sectors such as tourism, transport, production and services. A significant increase in tax revenue is expected, benefiting the community and the country through taxes such as VAT, corporate income tax, personal income tax, excise duties and taxes. In addition to the tangible benefits, there will be a positive impact on the international image of Madrid and Spain.
