Formula 1: Spanish Grand Prix could remain on F1 calendar after fresh talks

Spanish Grand Prix

Spanish GP could remain on F1 calendar after fresh talks

It looked doomed...

Martin Macdonald

Friday 26 July 2019 13:43

The Spanish Grand Prix could be set to keep its place on the Formula 1 calendar for the 2020 season after new discussions took place which could see organisers secure a one-year extension to the current deal.

Ahead of the start of the 2019 campaign, five races had yet to secure their spot for next season - Britain, Germany, Italy, Mexico, and Spain. Since then, management at Silverstone have agreed on a new contract for the British GP, while Monza have revealed that they expect to reach an agreement with F1 and Liberty Media soon.

That leaves Germany, Mexico, and Spain, and Spain was previously thought to be the least likely to remain due to financial reasons.

However, new reports suggest the Circuit de Catalunya could once again play host to a race.

The one-year extension will provide extra breathing room for both parties to come to an agreement on a longer-term deal to keep F1 in Spain.

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However, with the Vietnam and Netherlands GP races already confirmed for 2020, Spain must fight for their desired time on the calendar.

Management at Zandvoort - the location of the Dutch GP - are facing a race against time to have the track ready for 2020, meaning that they could secure a later place on the calendar.

If this were to happen, Spain could take the first leg of the European section.

If Netherlands is ready, however, then Spain could be pushed back to later in the year - something which organisers have previously said would not be suitable.

"September is not good, that will be absolutely not acceptable for us, because we have typical rain here,” Barcelona circuit president Vicenc Aguilera told Motorsport.com earlier this year:

"It's a crazy thing, and we'd have a big mess – it would be a disaster. And why should you pay for a disaster? July is too hot. It should be May. But I will not discuss dates until we have a contract."