F1 Madrid schedules: all sessions, F2 and F3 races, and motor events of the Grand Prix

As of today (September 11, 2026), the urban circuit MADRING is already fully operational and is hosting this very weekend the Formula 1 Tag Heuer Spanish Grand Prix 2026 in Madrid. From the perspective of urban planning processing and sports homologation, the project has moved from the design and construction phase to the operational phase: the circuit is built, integrated into the official Formula 1 calendar, and now subject to controls and monitoring after each race.

1. Contractual framework and position in the F1 calendar

The agreement between Formula 1 (FOM) and IFEMA/Community of Madrid places the Spanish Grand Prix in Madrid for ten seasons, from 2026 to 2035. Various sources, such as the Madrid City Council and the Community, indicate that:

• The contract guarantees the annual celebration of the Grand Prix in Madrid at least until 2035, consolidating MADRING as the long-term Spanish venue (note from Madrid City Council and articles from Demócrata).
• Barcelona is integrated into an alternate model: Spain may have two Grand Prix some years, but the stable commitment is with Madrid (analysis in Demócrata).

Additionally, regional president Isabel Díaz Ayuso expressly thanked FIA and FOM for their support in the project and confirmed the date of the first Grand Prix on September 13, 2026, within the weekend of September 11‑13 (statement from 06/10/2025).

2. Urban planning and infrastructure processing

At the local administrative level, the key milestone was the final approval of the Special Plan for IFEMA and its surroundings:

• The Madrid City Council Plenary approved on 02/25/2025 the Special Plan for Network Definition of the Juan Carlos I fairground park (municipal note), which:
  • Adjusts the internal zoning to make the circuit possible.
  • Expressly allows unique and temporary sporting events such as the F1 Grand Prix.
  • Reconfigures building capacity and parking and resolves the layout of the Vereda de los Leñeros livestock trail.
• The technical preliminary project defines a layout of about 5.4 km and 22 turns, combining IFEMA roads, the future expansion in Valdebebas, and part of the public road.

Regarding construction, the joint venture led by Acciona completed the circuit construction in just one year, integrating the layout into the urban environment of IFEMA‑Valdebebas and completing unique elements such as the banked curve “La Monumental” (Demócrata). Before summer 2026, paving, structures, and grandstand assembly were completed.

3. Sports homologation and subsequent controls

Although the internal details of FIA homologation are not published in official bulletins, the fact that MADRING:

• appears on the official Formula 1 calendar from 2026,
• has completed its construction according to the required technical standards,
• and is holding its first World Championship race at this time,

implies that the circuit has passed the necessary inspections and validations by FOM/FIA to be a championship venue.

Additionally, the environmental documentation foresees monitoring after each Grand Prix, with specific noise and reforestation controls and the possibility of introducing corrective measures depending on the results (Demócrata). That is, the “processing” is no longer initial authorization but periodic impact evaluation.

4. Position of the administrations

• Community of Madrid: central political promoter. Presents Formula 1 as a strategic project for sports tourism and economy, highlighting its impact (around 450 million euros annually and thousands of jobs) and defending its profitability without direct cost to taxpayers (official statements and debate on noise and mobility).
• Madrid City Council: responsible for urban planning and local mobility. Has approved the special plan, defends MADRING as a differentiating element, and deploys traffic devices and municipal services for the Grand Prix (Madrid City Council).
• Government of Spain: does not appear as a main party in the contract with F1 but cooperates in sectoral matters (transport, tourism promotion, etc.) through general agreements with the Community and City Council. There is no specific state regulation on MADRING homologation beyond the general framework of road safety, environment, and sport.

5. Summary of the current status

In short, the MADRING circuit is no longer in the project phase but fully operational: it has approved urban planning, completed construction, a ten-season contract with F1, and sufficient sports validation to appear in the World Championship and hold its first Grand Prix. The regulatory agenda now shifts to environmental monitoring, mitigation measures (noise, mobility, residential environment), and technical adjustments that may arise from this first edition.

The powers of the President of the Community of Madrid regarding major international sporting events do not generally appear as “nominally” sports functions, but rather as a projection of his institutional position as head of the regional government and ordinary representative of the State. The operational detail falls to the ministry responsible for sport, but the president concentrates political leadership, representation, and major strategic decisions.

1. Basic framework: Statute of Autonomy

The Statute of Autonomy of the Community of Madrid (Organic Law 3/1983, partially amended by LO 5/1998) establishes that:

• The powers of the Community are exercised through the Assembly, the Government, and the President of the Community.
• The president “holds the supreme representation of the Autonomous Community and the ordinary representation of the State within it, presides over and directs the Government’s activity, appoints and removes Vice Presidents and Ministers, and coordinates the Administration.”

On this basis, any role in the attraction and organization of major sporting events derives from his status as the highest political representative and head of the regional government.

2. Law on Government and Administration of the Community of Madrid

Law 1/1983, on Government and Administration of the Community of Madrid specifies these general functions:

• As supreme representative of the Community, he is responsible for high-level representation before other State institutions and other autonomous communities and for signing cooperation agreements.
• As President of the Government Council, he sets the general guidelines of government action, convenes and directs Council meetings, signs decrees and agreements, and ensures coordination among ministries.
• Authorizes certain expenditures according to budgetary rules and oversees the execution of Council decisions.
• May delegate executive and representative functions to vice presidents and ministers, retaining key strategic powers.

Applied to major international sporting events, this means the president can:

• Politically lead a bid (for example, before international federations or in coordination with the Government of Spain and other communities).
• Promote and approve, within the Government Council, plans, programs, or budget packages linked to event organization (infrastructure, tourism promotion, security, etc.).
• Sign cooperation agreements and accords with other regional or local administrations sharing venue or investments associated with the event.

3. Sectoral powers in sports matters

Material competence in sport is developed by Law 15/1994, on Sport of the Community of Madrid, which assigns the “Sports Administration of the Community of Madrid” functions such as:

• Formulating the guidelines for sports promotion and development policy.
• Granting subsidies to federations and sports entities and inspecting their use.
• Authorizing state and international non-official sports competitions held in its territory.
• Developing and executing sports infrastructure plans and coordinating municipal sports services.

These powers are exercised through the responsible ministry (Culture, Tourism and Sport, or whichever holds the powers at any given time). Regulations such as Decree 281/2019, on the organizational structure of the Vice Presidency and Ministry of Sports, assign the Directorate General of Infrastructure and Physical Activity and Sport Programs the collaboration in organizing, promoting, and disseminating sporting events in the Community of Madrid, and the proposal of subsidies.

4. Political role of the president in major events

Within this sectoral framework, the president assumes a predominantly political and coordination role:

• Political impetus and legitimization: leads presentations and support events for bids; his backing is relevant before international federations, investors, and media.
• Inter-administrative coordination: directs the Government Council in coordination with the State (Higher Sports Council, ministries), host city councils, and other communities if the event is multi-venue.
• Negotiation and signing of framework agreements: when cooperation agreements between communities or with public entities from other territories are required, the power to sign them on behalf of the Community lies with the president, subject to authorization by the regional government.
• Strategic budget decisions: although the execution and processing of specific aids are carried out by the ministry, the president participates in defining regional budget priorities and approving agreements such as the one from November 18, 2020, which regulated direct aid to federations for national and international events of special interest.
• Institutional representation in organization: at key phases (awarding, signing institutional contracts, inaugurations or closures), acts as the visible face of the Community, without prejudice to technical management by the sports administration and federations.

5. Limits and distribution of responsibilities

There is no exclusive competence of the president “over major sporting events” separate from the rest of the Government. His intervention is integrated within the general framework of:

• Government leadership and coordination of ministries.
• Representation of the Community and signing of agreements.
• Approval, in the Government Council he presides over, of rules, programs, and aids that configure regional support for those events.

In summary, the President of the Community of Madrid exercises political, institutional, and high-level coordination leadership in attracting and organizing major international sporting events, while technical competence, specific authorizations, and daily management reside with the ministry and the regional sports administration.

Organizing a Formula 1 Grand Prix in a city like Madrid requires promoters to comply with a complex set of legal requirements at the state, regional (Community of Madrid), and municipal (Madrid City Council) levels. There is no “F1 law,” but rather the combined application of regulations on sport, traffic, public events, environment, civil protection, and urban planning, plus the specific authorizations processed for Madring (IFEMA‑Valdebebas).

1. Sports and federative framework

• Law 39/2022, on Sport: establishes high-level sport and official international competitions as matters of public interest and sets that Spanish sports federations (in this case, the Royal Spanish Automobile Federation, whose statutes are published in the Resolution of 09/19/2018) are the sports interlocutors with the FIA and the state administration.
• The promoter must fit the Grand Prix within this framework: an official race registered in the FIA calendar, endorsed by the federation, complying with the safety and facility standards required by the FIA and Spanish legislation.

2. Traffic, public road use, and circulation

• The General Traffic Regulations (Royal Decree 1428/2003) expressly regulate “sports tests, cycling marches, and other events” on roads subject to traffic legislation. It establishes that:
  • Speed competitions on public roads are prohibited except with express authorization and road closure by the competent authority.
  • Any sports event on the road requires prior authorization, processed with a binding report from the administrations responsible for traffic surveillance (DGT, or the regional authority where competent).
• On this basis, the DGT has classified the Madrid GP as a “High traffic impact event” and has issued recommendations and a special traffic management and detour operation around IFEMA and Valdebebas (Interior Ministry note).
• Promoters must assume the conditions of that authorization (closures, mobility rings, signage, emergency routes, etc.) and coordinate with Municipal Police, DGT, and other forces.

3. Public events and licenses in Madrid

• In the Community of Madrid, Law 17/1997, on Public Shows and Recreational Activities applies to sports events open to the public. It requires, among others:
  • The organizer to have a municipal operating license for the establishment or venue where the event is held.
  • Technical requirements for structural safety, fire protection, health conditions, acoustics, and accessibility.
  • Subscription of civil liability and fire insurance covering damages to attendees and third parties.
  • Preparation of an emergency/self-protection plan in accordance with current regulations.
• For IFEMA‑Madring, the City Council has approved a Special Plan for Network Definition that:
  • Updates zoning to allow “unique and temporary sporting events” such as the F1 Spanish Grand Prix.
  • Flexibilizes the use of open spaces for the circuit, maintaining at least 40% permanent landscaping.
  • Integrates the layout combining the fairground, expansion in Valdebebas, and public road sections.
  See the notes municipal from 07/04/2024 and from 02/25/2025.

4. Civil protection, self-protection, and mobility plans

• The Basic Self-Protection Standard (Royal Decree 393/2007) and the new Basic Civil Protection Standard (Royal Decree 524/2023) require activities that may generate serious emergencies to prepare and maintain:
  • A self-protection plan prepared by a competent technician, with risk analysis, emergency organization, intervention means, and evacuation plans.
  • Integration of that plan into the civil protection planning of the Community and City Council.
• For the Madrid GP, the City Council has approved a specific mobility plan that is part of the authorization granted to IFEMA: it defines mobility rings, closures, accredited access points, VTC pickup points, and a broad reinforcement of public transport (mobility plan 09/03/2026). The promoter must comply with these conditions and the Municipal Police devices.

5. Environment, noise, and monitoring

• At the state level, Law 37/2003, on Noise and its regulatory development apply; in Madrid, Decree 55/2012 on acoustic pollution. The circuit must:
  • Comply with limits or, if not possible occasionally, obtain suspension decisions of acoustic quality objectives provided in the Noise Law, as reflected in the project’s environmental documentation.
  • Implement a real-time noise monitoring system, with online consultation of levels and the ability to adopt corrective measures if approaching permitted thresholds (according to the environmental assessment analyzed by Demócrata).
• The environmental authorization of the Madring project obliges the promoter to:
  • Appoint an environmental monitoring officer independent from the organization.
  • Prepare an environmental report for each Grand Prix and an annual report, evaluating noise, air quality, soils, waters, vegetation, fauna, cultural heritage, and socioeconomic effects.
  • Apply and, if necessary, reinforce compensatory measures (e.g., reforestation of the northern plot and acoustic screens).
• IFEMA has publicly declared that the circuit “complies with noise regulations” and has licenses and acoustic screens (Nueva Economía Fórum, 07/13/2026).

6. Civil liability and insurance

• In addition to the insurance required by Law 17/1997, liability for damages arising from motor vehicle circulation is governed by the Consolidated Text of the Law on Civil Liability and Insurance in Motor Vehicle Circulation (Royal Legislative Decree 8/2004).
• The promoter must:
  • Contract policies that cover, with the usual reinforced limits for events of this scale, personal and material damages arising from training, race, and assembly/disassembly.
  • Accredit these insurances in licensing files and agreements with administrations.

In summary, a promoter wishing to organize an F1 Grand Prix in Madrid must: obtain traffic and special public road use authorizations; fit the event within the Sports Law and the corresponding federation; comply with Madrid’s Public Shows Law (licenses, capacities, insurances, emergency plans); approve and execute self-protection and mobility plans coordinated with City Council, Community, and State; undergo environmental evaluation and monitoring (especially noise and trees); and assume civil liability and insurance derived from circulation in a high-intensity semi-urban environment.