Madrid will host a Method One avenue race from 2026 onwards, it was introduced on Tuesday, leaving a question-mark over the way forward for the prevailing Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona.

F1’s final Madrid occasion was in 1981 at a purpose-built observe at Jarama, however its new venue can be a 5.47km circuit which stretches across the Ifema exhibition centre within the metropolis.

F1 confirmed it has signed a 10-year take care of the Madrid occasion, which can characteristic a purpose-built paddock facility within the coronary heart of town.

Assuming different races keep in place, it is going to change into the ninth avenue race on the calendar alongside the likes of Monaco and the brand new Las Vegas Grand Prix.

“Madrid is an unimaginable metropolis with superb sporting and cultural heritage, and immediately’s announcement begins an thrilling new chapter for F1 in Spain,” F1 president Stefano Domenicali stated.

F1 is known to be in ongoing discussions with Barcelona’s Circuit de Catalunya about its personal deal, which runs till 2025, and has made clear the race may proceed alongside Madrid.

F1 has accommodated two races in Spain earlier than — two time world champion Fernando Alonso’s enormous reputation helped create the short-lived European Grand Prix in Valencia between 2008 and 2012.

Alonso and Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz, born and raised in Madrid, are two of the game’s hottest drivers.

Alonso gained world championships in 2005 and 2006 and is credited with a increase in reputation for F1 in Spain, which historically has favoured motorcycle racing.

The development of avenue circuit races in F1 is rising — new races in Saudi Arabia, Miami and Las Vegas are all in a avenue format, which characteristic restricted run off areas and partitions across the fringe of the observe, though the Qatar Grand Prix joined the schedule with a standard circuit in 2021.

The championship remains to be exploring choices for a race in Africa, the one continent which isn’t represented on the schedule.

F1’s schedule is already set for a document 24 occasions in 2024, probably the most which may be held underneath the Concorde Settlement, though that most may be raised when the business deal is renegotiated with the groups in 2026.