F1's Madrid move fuelled by net zero goal and big city glamour

LONDON : Formula One's announcement that Madrid will host the Spanish Grand Prix from 2026 reflects the sport's push for net zero carbon status by 2030 as well as the desire to race in 'destination cities'.

The new 5.47km part-street circuit will be around the IFEMA exhibition centre with easy access by rail and metro from the city and nearby Barajas airport, a positive for the sport's carbon footprint.

Organisers expect 90 per cent of fans will be able to reach the venue by public transport.

"IFEMA... shares our vision and ambition to make the Spanish Grand Prix in Madrid one of the most accessible and sustainable F1 events on the calendar," F1 chief executive Stefano Domenicali said at a lavish presentation on Tuesday.

A press release said IFEMA exhibition halls used 100 per cent certified renewable energy and any temporary structure built for the race would be built with recyclable materials.

Most of the latest additions to Formula One's calendar, a record 24 races for 2024, have been urban with the Las Vegas Strip, Jeddah's Corniche, Miami's Hard Rock Stadium and Singapore's Marina Bay standing out.

Rural favourites like Silverstone and Spa-Francorchamps, hugely popular with fans but heavily reliant on road access, have long ceased to be the business model.

Taking races to population centres, with concerts and entertainment thrown in, is the name of the game even if the tracks themselves are not necessarily conducive to great racing.

The likes of Germany's Nuerburgring and Hockenheim, France's Magny-Cours and Le Castellet and Turkey's Istanbul Park have disappeared from the calendar for financial reasons but also because public transport was almost non-existent and hotels scarce.

Barcelona's Circuit de Catalunya, current host