Barcelona to remain on F1 calendar in rotation with Spa-Francorchamps

Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya will keep its place on the Formula 1 schedule under a new rotational arrangement with Belgium’s Spa-Francorchamps, ensuring the venue remains part of the championship despite Madrid’s forthcoming takeover of the Spanish Grand Prix.

The decision follows confirmation that Madrid will host the Spanish Grand Prix from 2026 onward, ending Barcelona’s longstanding role as the event’s sole host. Rather than disappearing entirely, the Catalan circuit will now alternate with Spa-Francorchamps, guaranteeing both historic tracks periodic exposure on the calendar.

The rotational model offers a compromise that preserves two circuits rich in F1 heritage while accommodating the sport’s expanding global footprint. Barcelona, a traditional testing venue known for its technical layout and changeable weather, has been a fixture since 1991, while Spa-Francorchamps, famed for its high-speed sweep through the Ardennes forest, has been a championship mainstay since the 1950s.

Details of the rotation sequence—such as which circuit will appear in even- and odd-numbered seasons—have yet to be revealed, but stakeholders welcomed the move as a pragmatic solution in an increasingly congested schedule.