There’s been plenty of uncertainty surrounding the future of Formula 1 races at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya and Spa Francorchamps for some time now.
Spa is especially popular with fans, not just because of its history, but also its unique setting deep in the Ardennes forest, which gives it a distinct feel unlike any other track on the calendar.
But F1 is facing decisions about both circuits. In 2026, the Spanish Grand Prix will move to Madrid, leaving Barcelona’s role in question.
Back in January, a new agreement was announced stating that starting in 2027, the Belgian Grand Prix would be held every other year rather than annually.
Max Verstappen has often spoken about how much he enjoys Spa-Francorchamps. He called it his ‘favourite track’ once, and Verstappen fans tend to fill up the circuit every season.
Talks had surfaced about Germany and France trying to bring back their own Grands Prix. Both countries have circuits that fans are fond of but there hasn’t been much progress lately.
Formula 1 planning to alternate Barcelona race with Spa through 2032
While the new regulations coming in for 2026 have created a lot of anticipation around the sport, it’s also been an uncertain period for some.
The organisers behind the Barcelona race, which has been on the calendar since 1991, were facing the possibility that 2026 could be their final year.
But La Vanguardia is now reporting that Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya will also host races in 2028, 2030, and 2032.
This sets up an alternating schedule with the Belgian Grand Prix, keeping both of these historic circuits involved for at least a few more years.
Meanwhile, Madrid’s new Spanish Grand Prix isn’t part of any rotation and is locked in through to the end of the 2035 season.
This comes after it was confirmed that Portugal’s Portimao circuit will take over from Zandvoort starting in 2027. The calendar changes are coming together piece by piece.
Barcelona’s future on the F1 calendar: Does it still fit?
While Barcelona has been a staple on the Formula 1 calendar for more than three decades, it hasn’t always delivered memorable races in recent years.
The last major first-lap incident worth recalling was nearly a decade ago when Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg collided while driving for Mercedes.
Even after some changes, overtaking remains a challenge at this circuit, and getting to and from the track is often a hassle.
The hope is that the new generation of F1 cars coming in 2026 will be better suited to the layout, but there are other tracks – like Istanbul or Hockenheim – that might deserve consideration ahead of it.
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