F1: Jarama to push for Formula 1 return (Update)

The Jarama venue, which held the Spanish Grand Prix on 11 occasions between 1967 and 1981, is to be upgraded to make it eligible to host Formula 1 and MotoGP.

Isabel Diaz Ayuso, president of the Community of Madrid, said at a press conference that attempts to procure a grand prix were not being made “to the detriment of Catalunya”, with Barcelona having a contract to host the Spanish Grand Prix through to 2026.

However, Ayuso added that while it remains “very early” in the discussions, “the FIA are interested and we are working precisely with them to analyze how we should start this important adventure”.

Quoted by Marca, Ayuso added: “Spain could have two grands prix or none at all. We don’t want to compete with anyone in this sense.”

The cost of such a project is estimated at 50 million euro, with Ayuso adding: “We want to talk to all the public and private institutions related to these competitions so it can also be in Madrid because I am convinced it would be a great success.”

Jarno Zaffelli, head of Dromo Circuit Design who got Zandvoort back into shape for its F1 return, is reported to have already carried out an assessment of Jarama which would include lengthening the track by 300 meters to 4.1km.

He is also reported to have indicated it would be much more cost-effective to redevelop Jarama than to construct a temporary street circuit in Madrid.

“We at Dromo are working with many circuits that have the same characteristics as Jarama,” said Zaffelli. “Not only in Europe but practically all over the world.

“We don’t start from a blank sheet of paper but we try to take advantage of everything that exists, making it safe but keeping the same essence and ensuring the layout doesn’t lose its identity.

“We don’t have to redo things to make them perfect but, according to us, it has to have the same challenges it had before, with the necessary improvements to adapt it to the present day.”

(GMM) The former 2.392-mile Spanish GP venue at Jarama is the latest venue to put its hand up for a Formula 1 race.

Late on Tuesday, F1’s governing body ratified the longest ever calendar in the sport’s history for 2023 – featuring no fewer than 24 grands prix.

France’s Paul Ricard is gone, replaced by the return of the Chinese GP, while Las Vegas is the new venue.

Monaco has kept its place, with a new three-year deal for the historic street race also announced on Tuesday.

The Dutch GP at Zandvoort, has been moved so that it re-fires the calendar after the now-traditional August break.

“The Max Verstappen effect is clear to everyone,” F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali told Italy’s Autosprint.

“Not only for what we have seen in the Netherlands, but he also manages to evoke that feeling throughout the rest of the world.”

F1’s popularity continues to surge elsewhere, as it emerges in the Spanish publication Autopista that Jarama near Madrid is bidding for a future grand prix with a letter of intent.

A Spanish delegation met with F1 officials including Domenicali at Monza recently.

“Technically it would be possible and not as expensive as making a new circuit for Jarama to be able to host Formula 1, for sure,” said Jarno Zaffelli, widely regarded as the sport’s new Hermann Tilke.

Jarama hosted nine Spanish grands prix between 1968 and 1981.