Follow the presentation live starting at 10:30 a.m. here.
Today takes place the official announcement of the agreement reached between IFEMA MADRID and F1 that grants Madrid to host the celebration of the Spanish Grand Prix starting in 2026. An announcement that has come from the hand of Stefano Domenicali, president and CEO of F1, and José Vicente de los Mozos, president of the Executive Committee of IFEMA MADRID, in an event headed by Isabel Díez Ayuso, president of the Community of Madrid and the Governing Board of IFEMA MADRID, and in which José Luis Martínez also participated. Almeida, mayor of Madrid, and Ángel Asensio, president of the Madrid Chamber of Commerce and Industry, both vice presidents of the Governing Board of IFEMA MADRID. The presentation has also brought together a large group of representatives from the sports, business and institutional world, 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 things, advantages, the horizon necessary to ensure the return of investments and consequently favors 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 has used its proven capacity to host major world events as fundamental arguments; its organizational flexibility; its financial solvency, and the versatility, equipment and perfect location of its facilities, among other important competitive advantages.
A new paradigm of experience and sporting event
The conceptualization of the new circuit combines sport and spectacle, which will make it a reference on the international calendar. The technical draft of the concept of the circuit and its facilities, developed by Dromo, and pending homologation by the FIA, includes, as explained by Jarno Zaffelli, founder and CEO of Dromo, a 5,474 km long route, 20 curves, and a qualifying lap of 1 minute and 32 seconds.
The layout would use IFEMA MADRID roads, both from the current site and the future ones on the Valdebebas plot, in addition to just 1.5 km of public roads. The project will benefit from exceptional facilities, never imagined at the service of a Grand Prix. More than 200,000 m2 of covered pavilions features; 10,000 meters of multipurpose meeting spaces; 10,000 parking spaces. All infrastructures equipped with the latest technology and advanced security, communication and air conditioning systems that will make it possible to raise the standards of experience for both the participants and the passionate followers of Formula 1, generating unprecedented spaces in the competition such as a covered paddock and air-conditioned or large areas for activating experiences for fans.
The materialization of the project will in turn add new constructions to the venue, such as two buildings that will extend pavilions 1 and 2, to house the most exclusive Paddock Club, among other infrastructures, which will be operated and marketed by IFEMA MADRID for its usual activity. of the year. Regarding attendance capacity, it is estimated to start with 110,000 spectators, to exceed 140,000 in the fifth year.
Additionally, 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, its accessibility is one of the differential and best valued points. With the starting point at the IFEMA MADRID facilities, it will be the best connected by public transport of the entire competition, with accessibility hitherto unknown. Integrated into the city itself, and 5 minutes from the Airport and with access to an efficient transportation network, with the Metro at the foot of the circuit, Commuter Train and urban buses, it has been estimated that up to 90% of fans access by transportation public.
Why Madrid in the F1 World Championship?
But without a doubt the great argument for the decision to return the Spanish Grand Prix to Madrid has been the set of characteristics that the city and its Region offer, due to its lifestyle, its extensive cultural and leisure agenda, haute cuisine , its hotel plant and its hospitality, in addition to the safety and quality of its services. Madrid, in turn, will be immersed in multiple activities and entertainment initiatives linked to F1 coinciding with the celebration of the Grand Prix starting in 2026.
In this regard, and taking into account the estimate of the more than 85,000 tourists who 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 consulting firm Deloitte, its celebration will mean income for Madrid. annually that would exceed 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, states that “Madrid is an incredible city with an amazing sporting and cultural heritage, and today’s announcement begins an exciting new chapter for F1 in Spain. I would like to thank the IFEMA MADRID team, the Regional Government of Madrid and the mayor of the city for putting together a fantastic proposal. It truly embodies Formula 1’s vision to create a multi-day spectacle of sport and entertainment that offers maximum value for fans and embraces innovation and sustainability.”
José Vicente de los Mozos, president of the Executive Committee of IFEMA MADRID, states, “We have managed to make the dream of hosting a great Formula 1 event come true around the IFEMA MADRID facilities. We are happy to announce that F1 will return to Madrid after more than four decades. At IFEMA MADRID we have the ambition to organize a Grand Prix that will become a reference on the international F1 calendar. Conceptualized and designed specifically to offer a differential and unique experience for both the fans and the teams participating in the competition, Madrid wants to deepen the development of a new paradigm that combines sport and spectacle, offering a memorable event.
Isabel Díaz Ayuso, president of the Community of Madrid, states, “It is a great satisfaction to announce that Formula 1 is coming to the Community of Madrid, to a region and a capital that awaken openness and trust inside and outside our borders. We are the engine of Spain. This event, which can be followed by 70 million people, will increase Madrid’s GDP by more than 4.5 billion euros and will generate more than 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, states, “With the arrival of the Grand Prix, Madrid accelerates towards the future and enters the exclusive group of cities that today host F1, placing us at the head of world capitals in attracting major events. We know that F1 is more than a race, it is an unprecedented opportunity to promote the transformation that Madrid is experiencing, and show the world what we are capable of. “I have complete confidence that Madrid will be up to the task, not only because we deserve a show of the magnitude of F1, but because F1 deserves a city with the energy, character and passion of Madrid.”
Angel Asensio, president of the Madrid Chamber of Commerce and Industry, states: “The Madrid Chamber of Commerce celebrates the agreement that consolidates the city as the venue for a Formula 1 grand prix, considering it a collective success. Their sporting, cultural, social, economic and business impact stands out, generating a multiplier effect in various sectors such as tourism, transportation, production and services. A significant increase in tax collection is expected, benefiting the community and the country through taxes such as VAT, corporate tax, personal income tax, and special fees and taxes. In addition to the tangible benefits, the positive impact on the international image of Madrid and Spain stands out.”
About IFEMA MADRID
It is currently the main exhibition operator in Spain and a leading figure in the Events industry at the European level. Throughout its history and particularly in recent years, it has stood out for its dynamism and its constant search for innovation. This allowed him to lead the global restoration of activities in the fairs, conferences and meetings sector amid unprecedented challenges. Its international recognition has positioned it as the main conference venue in Europe, hosting recent global events such as COP 25 and the NATO General Assembly in 2022.
About Formula 1®
Formula 1® racing began in 1950 and is the world’s most prestigious motorsport competition, as well as the world’s most popular annual sports series. Formula One World Championship Limited is part of Formula 1® and holds the exclusive commercial rights to the FIA Formula One World Championship™. Formula 1® is a subsidiary of Liberty Media Corporation (NASDAQ: LSXMA, LSXMB, LSXMK, FWONA, FWONK, LLYVA, LLYVK) attributed to the tracking stock of Formula One Group. The F1 logo, the F1 FORMULA 1 logo, F1, FIA FORMULA ONE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP, GRAND PRIX, PADDOCK CLUB and related marks are trademarks of Formula One Licensing BV, a Formula 1 company. All rights reserved.
