Formula 1 in Madrid and the end of the classic grand prix

We will always have Silverstone.

A great prize with history, a classic, with increasingly less affordable prices and the right posture.

We are not talking about careers, but about everything that surrounds and accompanies them.

And it seems more and more that there will be more of that.

Show.

The entry of Madrid into the Formula 1 circus and the prices that the organizers propose for that first event, in 2026, confirm that Liberty Media, the company that owns the rights to the competition, is committed to two types of races: large first and second prizes;

or, to be more elegant: event races and classic races.

Madrid would fall into the first group, like the new acquisitions, those of Las Vegas, Miami or Mexico, those events designed fundamentally to attract an audience with great purchasing power;

partly arrived from outside Spain, in this case, and focused on the Latin American public with a presence or business in the Spanish capital.

The (already old) model of Bernie Ecclestone has little to do with that of Greg Maffei (CEO of Liberty), who pursues the show above all things, allied with Netflix, promoted by that serial titled Drive to survive, which It is already in its sixth season.

We cannot guess how this categorization and price difference will affect the coexistence of Madrid with the current Spanish Grand Prix, which will be held at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, at least, until 2026, season (at the moment the only one confirmed). in which both appointments will appear on the calendar at the same time.

But the renewal of the contract with Silverstone, signed yesterday - ten more years, until 2034 - allows us to imagine a near future in which the classics survive, as well as the Catalan race on the Montmeló circuit, despite this change of course and that its impact is five times less than that of the British event.

From there they are working on closing a renovation, also for ten years, that guarantees the survival of the track itself - a deficit structure, right now - which also houses MotoGP, but is supported, above all, by Formula 1.

More information

The designer of the semi-urban F1 circuit in Madrid: “Let people be calm;

“Madrid will not be like Valencia”

Faced with the continuity of Montmeló, the aspirations of Ifema and his career in Madrid are totally legitimate.

It is legal to aspire to sell tickets at 469.80 euros (compared to 360 in Barcelona).

Now, if Ifema is not full, the organizers risk a wake-up call from Liberty.

Nobody likes empty stands.

They look very bad on television.

If, on the other hand, this semi-urban grand prix is ​​a success, Madrid will present itself as a place to host large events.

And there is no greater event than the Games.

For romantics, we will always have Silverstone.

And, who knows, Montmeló.

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