What the new Barcelona announcement means for aspiring Formula 1 tracks

Earlier today, it was announced that the Barcelona track will remain on the F1 calendar until the 2032 season. The race in Catalonia will take place every second year, alternating with the Belgian Grand Prix held at Spa-Francorchamps.

Currently, there are 24 Grands Prix a year in Formula 1. The Concorde Agreement says the upper limit is 25 Grands Prix, but during both the 2023 and 2024 seasons, Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali stated clearly that the maximum number of races is "set at 24".

For now, that means that a new or a returning track could be on the calendar in 2027, as there are 23 circuits with contracts in place at the moment.

The Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort will not be continued beyond the 2026 season, and Barcelona will rotate with Spa-Francorchamps. That creates two available slots on the calendar.

One of those will be filled by the Portuguese Grand Prix at Portimao. Still, there will be one highly-demanded slot up for grabs, should the competition continue with the now-usual 24 rounds.