Negotiations with Liberty Media continue in Barcelona

      On June 1, the circuit in Barcelona will host the Spanish Grand Prix for the penultimate time – the Catalan ring's contract with Formula 1 expires in 2026, and the Madrid race will make its debut in the World Cup calendar next season.

      But the Catalan government is not giving up and still hopes that it will be able to negotiate a contract extension with Liberty Media.

      "We all know that the contract ends next year, and we are negotiating to extend it," said Miguel Samper, minister of the regional government. – The key to the success of this process is also to avoid unnecessary hype. If Spain is going to host two Grands Prix – I mean, there will be a race in Madrid in the championship – then our stage will have to be called something else. I can't add anything else."

      According to the Marca newspaper, the minister's speech took place as part of today's presentation of the upcoming Grand Prix. According to him, negotiations continue almost daily, because the Catalan economy benefits greatly from the fact that MotoGP and Formula 1 stages take place at the circuit near Barcelona. Samper cited these statistics: every year these two races bring about half a billion euros, while 2,500 people are employed.

      "We have to show that we want to stay in Formula 1," added Josep Mateu, president of RACC, the Catalan national automobile federation. – The upcoming race provides a great opportunity to demonstrate our strength. We are convinced that it will be a great show. We have proved that we are very good at organizing world-class competitions.

      The circuit in Barcelona is one of the tracks that the racers love the most, they all enjoy coming here, and next year the pre–season tests that have recently been held in Bahrain will also return. Besides, not everyone can boast of such traditions as ours."