Spanish Grand Prix secures deal to remain on F1 calendar until 2020 – German GP at risk

The Spanish Grand Prix, a mainstay of the Formula One Circuit since 1991, will remain on the calendar until 2020.

News of the current extension will come as music to the ears of many hardcore F1 fans, the Circuit de Catalunya Barcelona playing host to many of the great F1 battles. This including Nigel Mansell’s famous pass on Ayrton Senna down the straight in 1991 and Michael Schumacher’s brilliant wet-weather win in 1996.

For many months, it had appeared that this traditional test-bed of the calendar was under serious threat. But with the popular Barcelona circuit now having an extension signed off, Monza and Hockenheim seem to be the only big remaining F1 venues at risk for 2020 with a potential a 22-race schedule in the offing.

“We are pleased to confirm that the Spanish Grand Prix will be on the calendar of the 2020 FIA Formula 1 World Championship,” commented Chase Carey, Chairman and CEO, Formula 1® “The decision to continue to stage a round of the pinnacle of motor sport in Spain, a country with a great motor racing tradition, dating back to the start of the last century, is part of our strategy of maintaining Formula 1’s European roots, while also currently expanding the championship into new territories.”

With the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort making a popular return to F1 next year as well as Vietnam added to the calendar, only one race appears to be at risk. And with Silverstone agreeing a new multi-year deal and Mexico’s future also secured, it may be a straight fight between Monza and Hockenheim to remain on the calendar.

Should Hockenheim miss out, that would be yet another shock to the ever-evolving world of F1. Only the British, Italian and Monaco Grand Prixs have hosted more races.

Chris Watts