F1 News: Iconic Circuit On The Verge Of Cancellation Receives €50 Million Investment
Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, which is under threat of being canceled from the Formula 1 calendar, has received an investment worth €50 Million to "modernize" and "adapt the circuit to new requirements".
Key Takeaways:
- Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya has received a €50 million investment to modernize and adapt its infrastructure to meet new requirements, amid concerns about its potential exclusion from the Formula 1 calendar.
- With its current contract extending until 2026, Barcelona faces a threat from a new track in Madrid, prompting efforts to secure its position in F1.
- While uncertainty surrounds Barcelona's future in Formula 1, there is speculation about Spain hosting two Grands Prix to accommodate both circuits, although this idea presents challenges amidst Formula 1's plans to introduce new race tracks.
The current contract permitting Barcelona to host Formula 1 races lasts until 2026. Beyond the period, it receives a significant threat from the new track in Madrid, located about six hours away. Thus, the track authorities in Barcelona have been doing everything possible to preserve its status on the F1 calendar.
Red Bull Press Image
While F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has not confirmed Barcelona's exclusion from the sport, its current contract status and Madrid's addition post-2026 puts it in a worrisome spot.
However, there is a silver lining as there is a chance of Spain hosting two Grands Prix to satisfy both circuits. Although this option may raise numerous uncertainties, particularly with Formula 1 preparing to introduce several new race tracks that are unfamiliar to the F1 calendar, the idea might appear challenging.
Feeling confident that the plan to upgrade the facility would secure its position on the calendar, circuit director Josep Lluis Santamaria told Motorsport.com Italy:
“I don’t see why two Formula 1 Grands Prix cannot coexist in Spain in the future, there are three in the United States and two in Italy, and there can be two here as well.
“We are sportsmen and, of course, we like competition, so you can’t hide the fact that when you compete you have stimuli. But we have always said that the work we are completing started much earlier, more than two years ago, and was the result of agreements made with F1.”
Ferrari Press Image
The official statement from the circuit management stated the goal of the infrastructure overhaul. It read:
“This €50million investment plan until 2026 aims to modernise and adapt the Circuit to the new requirements, promoting a more sustainable, innovative, industrial and digital model with the objective of transforming the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya into a key infrastructure for the country’s industry, not only in terms of hosting motorsports, but also events of all kinds.”