Formula 1 confirms interest in city race through Madrid
- GPblog.com
On the day the Formula 1 organizers announced the China Grand Prix to be cancelled again in 2023, Spain hopes to eventually host a second race. Besides the famous circuit near Barcelona, capital Madrid now wants to host a Formula One race.
CEO Stefano Domenicali was visiting Pamplona this week to meet local businesses and meet the president of the local government. A topic of conversation was hosting a race in the capital. For now, F1 still goes to Catalonia, with which there is a long-term commitment. Should F1 decide to leave, Madrid will be ready. There were earlier reports of a new circuit being developed near the capital. But F1 is more interested in a semi-city race.
IFEMA
It should take place around the IFEMA congress and event venue, reports Marca. Speaking to the Spanish newspaper, Domenicali says: "I think the possibility we see at the moment is there more for IFEMA than for Jarama (the circuit)." According to Marca, the Italian CEO has already discussed developing a circuit around the IFEMA complex. This talk was with José Vicente de los Mozos, who is about to step down as president of the Renault Group in Spain to then head IFEMA.
Ideally, Spanish fans would love to host two Grands Prix in their own country, with their drivers Carlos Sainz and Fernando Alonso as eye-catchers. "In Italy it is happening now, but we will see in the future. If you see how we are growing around the world, two Grand Prix in the same country is very difficult in Europe. In other parts of the world, like the United States, it is totally different. I think it is difficult, but never say never," Domenicali said.