Carlos Sainz resigned to losing Spanish GP

Spanish GP

Sainz resigned to losing Spanish GP

Sad to see...

Matthew Scott

Thursday 9 May 2019 17:31

Carlos Sainz is resigned to the prospect of seeing his home race fall off the Formula 1 calendar in 2020. The Spanish Grand Prix is reportedly set to make way for a new race in the Netherlands at Zandvoort, with the Circuit de Catalunya the latest venue to fall foul of the cost of hosting F1.

This week's race at Montmelo will be the 60th Spanish GP in F1 history, the event having been held every year since 1986, and calling Barcelona home since 1991.

However, it appears a new deal is proving difficult to reach and the race could fall off next year's calendar, just one year after Spain's biggest star in the sport Fernando Alonso left F1.

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Sainz said: "For me it would be a big loss on the calendar, but as far as I know negotiations are still ongoing and nothing has been confirmed.

"I'm wishing that all the institutions are going to do their job, they're going to agree on something.

"It's in the benefit of Barcelona, of Spain, of Formula 1. I think the Spanish Grand Prix has a lot of history in Formula 1, I think this track has a lot of history in Formula 1 and it would be a big shame to lose it.

"Hopefully we can agree on something and, maybe not next year because it's too late or hopefully yes, we can sort something for the future."

It has been reported that F1 could return to Jerez, which hosted five Spanish GPs between 1986 and 1990, as well as two European Grands Prix in 1994 and 1997 – the latter an infamous title decider between Michael Schumacher and Jacques Villeneuve.

"What I would like the most is to keep Barcelona," Sainz said when asked about Jerez's potential return. "I think this city, this track, deserves to be in Formula 1.

"If you could add Jerez, then even better, because I would have two [home races] and if you don't get Barcelona, I wouldn't mind having Jerez.

"So that's my order of priorities if you ask me now. But Spain I think deserves to have Barcelona on the F1 calendar."