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Madrid to host Spanish Formula One Grand Prix from 2026

Madrid will host the Spanish Formula One Grand Prix from 2026 to 2035 on a new circuit that will have both street and non-street sectors, organisers of the sport announced Tuesday.

Published: 23 January 2024 12:01 CET
Madrid to host Spanish Formula One Grand Prix from 2026
Madrid will host the Formula 1 from 2026. (Photo by Jewel SAMAD / AFP)

The event has up until now been held in Barcelona and it was not immediately clear if that track will continue to hold a Formula One race from 2026.

The new 5.47-kilometre circuit will be built in and around Madrid’s IFEMA convention centre in the northeast of the Spanish capital and will feature 20 corners, Formula One organisers said in a statement.

It will have the capacity to receive over 110,000 spectators per day, which could increase to 140,000 during the first half of the agreement “making Madrid one of the largest venues on the F1 calendar”, the statement added.

Stefano Domenicali, the president and CEO of Formula One said “today’s announcement begins an exciting new chapter for F1 in Spain.”

The event is forecast to create 8,200 jobs and boost Madrid’s gross domestic product by over €450 million ($489 million).

“Madrid doesn’t just aspire to host a Formula One Grand Prix, it wants to host the best Formula One Grand Prix in the world,” Madrid mayor José Luis Martínez-Almeida said at the official presentation of the event.

The last F1 race in the Madrid region was in 1981 at the Jarama circuit.

Barcelona has been home to F1 in Spain for over three decades, since replacing Jerez, which staged the Spanish Grand Prix from 1986-1990.

Formula One has accommodated two races in Spain before — the country also hosted the European Grand Prix on a street circuit in Valencia from 2008-2012.

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SPORT

Atlético Madrid hit with partial stadium closure after racist abuse

Atlético Madrid must partially close their stadium for two La Liga matches after Athletic Bilbao winger Nico Williams suffered racial abuse there, the Spanish football federation said.

Published: 1 May 2024 17:00 CEST
Atlético Madrid hit with partial stadium closure after racist abuse

The Spain international heard monkey chants directed at him in the first half of his team’s 3-1 defeat at Atlético’s Metropolitano stadium in Spain’s top flight on Saturday.

“(Atlético have been issued) a sanction of partial closure of their sports venue for a period of two matches and a financial penalty of €20,000 ($21,350),” said the federation’s competition committee in a statement.

READ ALSO: World Cup winner Del Bosque to watch over Spain’s scandal-hit federation

One area of Atlético’s stadium will be shut for the upcoming league matches against Celta Vigo and Osasuna, as they strive for a top four finish.

“I went to take the corner and I heard monkey noises,” said Williams after Saturday’s game.

“There weren’t many of them. There are stupid people everywhere… I hope this changes bit by bit.”

Williams scored after the abuse and celebrated by pointing to his arm in reference to his skin colour.

“(The celebration) was with a bit of anger, it’s not normal to be insulted for the colour of your skin,” he added.

Spanish football has suffered a spate of racist incidents in recent years, many of which have been aimed at Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior.

The Brazil international earned global support after facing off with a fan who was abusing him last year at Valencia’s Mestalla stadium, which also faced subsequent partial closure.

READ ALSO: EXPLAINED: The racism problem that has blighted Spanish football

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