Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz’s father advocates for Madrid GP amid controversies

Madrid, the capital city of Spain, is going up against the Barcelona-Catalunya track to host the Spanish Grand Prix.

Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz’s father advocates for Madrid GP amid controversies

Carlos Sainz Jr. and Carlos Sainz Sr. (Via IMAGO)

The Spanish Grand Prix has been held at Barcelona for decades now, and the circuit is contracted to hold the GP until the end of the 2026 season. However, Madrid is contesting heavily in their bid to make the Spanish GP a street race.

Carlos Sainz Sr, F1 driver Carlos Sainz Jr’s father, is a Spanish racing legend and rallying champion and icon. The 61-year-old driver feels that the Spanish Grand Prix coming to Madrid would be a dream come true, especially considering its positive effects on the city.

If the Spanish Grand Prix came to Madrid, like any Madrilenian, [I would ] happy, I know what a Grand Prix entails and the impact it leaves on a city.
Carlos Sainz Sr said, as reported by it.motorsport.com

Sainz was born and raised in the city of Madrid, playing football and squash there as a teenager. Sainz even had a trial with the football club Real Madrid, and raced for the first time in the capital city.

Madrid likely to replace Barcelona to host Spanish Grand Prix

The Spanish Grand Prix has been held at the circuit Barcelona-Catalunya since the 1991 season, with Fernando Alonso winning his last race at his home race at the venue in 2013. Catalonia is hosting the GP until 2026, after which the status of the track remains unconfirmed.

Lance Stroll at the Spanish Grand Prix
Lance Stroll at the Spanish Grand Prix (via Sky Sports F1)

Madrid, the most populous city of Spain as well as the capital, is also vying to host the GP. With a five-kilometer track planned, a deal has reportedly been signed with F1 to conduct the Spanish GP after 2026.

According to Spanish newspaper El Mundo, the area of Ifema and Valdebebas will be the venue for the track, which will pass by the Real Madrid sports city. A street circuit, the Madrid track will also pass through the grounds where the Mad Cool festival is regularly held

Spain previously hosted a second Grand Prix at Valencia, for the European Grand Prix over five years until 2012. Valencia now hosts almost exclusively motorcycle Grands Prix, a staple of the MotoGP calendar.

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