Are we nearing the end of Barcelona’s run as an
MONTMELO, Spain (AP)– Barcelona may be quickly approaching its end as a Formula 1 city after more than 3 decades of racing in northeastern Spain.The grand prix is under agreement through next year, however the addition of a race in Madrid likewise in 2026 has put a bullseye on the event that has been held near Barcelona since 1991.
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F1 has actually trended towards including city and short-term circuits, which use spectators the services and destinations of a city and are simple to get to. That push was behind the announcement in 2015 that Spain’s capital would get its own race on a short-lived circuit.Miquel Sàmper,
who is president of the largely publicly-owned Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya as the local minister for company and labor for Catalonia, checked out the paddock ahead receiving the Spanish GP on Saturday. He informed press reporters that negotiations were ongoing with F1 to keep the race on the calendar in 2027 but they would take maximum discretion and, most notably, time, much like “the best cooking.”” This will only go well if we are discrete, “Sàmper said.”
There are lots of possible choices, and that is making this take longer. We are examining every one for its pros and cons, and remembering the circumstances: there are a growing number of countries that want grand prixs.”2 races for Spain?Advertisement F1 president Stefano Domenicali said throughout the discussion of the Madrid event in January 2024 that the arrival of new race wouldn’t eliminate keeping the Barcelona occasion on the calendar.Spain did briefly host 2 races when it had the European Grand Prix on a street circuit in Valencia from 2008-12. However Italy appears set to lose Imola, leaving it just the Monza race, as F1 expands in the United States, where it now holds 3 races, and looks for new fans beyond the currently tapped-out European market.When asked by The Associated Press if F1 had slammed the hood on the possibility of having 2 races in Spain, Sàmper said he couldn’t comment.Advertisement The Madrid race will become the Spanish Grand Prix, meaning that next year’s race in Catalonia will have to get a new name. Sàmper said that is still being spoken about with F1 as well.Drivers protect Barcelona Fernando Alonso made an impassioned defense of Barcelona on Thursday, going so far regarding forecast that it would stay on the calendar. “It’s good to have brand-new nations as well that Formula 1 has moved to in the last years.
But at the very same time, we need to keep some conventional circuits where the history of Formula 1 has been written and made, “the Spanish two-time champion said.Those littles F1 history consist of a remarkable duel between Nigel Mansell and Ayrton Senna as they jousted side by side down pitlane throughout the very first Barcelona race. And for modern-day fans, present F1 champion Max Verstappen became the youngest race winner at age 18 on this track.Advertisement” For F1 in basic,”Verstappen stated today,”it would be a bit of a loss, obviously, if this track goes.”The circuit is considered an excellent standard track with high-speed and medium-speed turns. It has been routinely used for winter season testing as well.The thinking goes: if your cars and truck performs here, it should carry out well in many repaired tracks.
Michael Schumacher
and Lewis Hamilton both won six times on this circuit as they accumulated world titles.Hamilton agreed it is a” timeless “race, while including it would
be difficult for Madrid to develop a much better track.”Structure a new circuit is struck or miss, and 95 %of the time it is even worse,”Hamilton said.
“But as long as we have a good as circuit then it is okay.” Advertisement Things to enhance The 4.66-kilometer(2.89-mile)Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya layout is not favorable to overtaking.
The very best chance trailing drivers have is generally at the really begin on the long term to the first turn.Officials have bought recent years to improve facilities, however it still is challenging to get to regardless of being located on a hill above the working-class town of Montmelo some 30 kilometers (18 miles
)north of Barcelona
. Roadways and commuter trains are overwhelmed by the more than 100,000 fans who come on race day.So next year could be the swan tune for F1 in Montmelo. ___ AP vehicle racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing