F1 calendar news: Latest on London Grand Prix, Madrid and Hockenheimring

The competition for a spot on the F1 calendar continues to hot up, with London seen as an interesting project, while Madrid has perhaps already made that breakthrough.

With Formula 1 right now enjoying a level of popularity which the series perhaps has never seen before, it means that a fierce off-track battle is going on as venues try to force their way onto the schedule.

Already the season is at 23 rounds for F1 2023, and with president Stefano Domenicali having set 24 as the limit, it means there is very little room for manoeuvre.

And among the potential new stops rumoured for the future are a grand prix in London, while Domenicali has already confirmed that Madrid is interested in getting in on the action, with Barcelona’s deal to host the Spanish Grand Prix up after 2026.

There are also iconic names from Formula 1’s past which understandably are brought up from time to time considering this boom period, the likes of the Hockenheimring coming straight to mind.

And as it turns out, recent status updates have emerged on all three of these examples.

Formula 1 ‘ready to talk’ on London GP proposal

The series recently moved to quash renewed chatter over a race in England’s capital city, after reports emerged that a Formula 1 standard track was to be included in plans to revitalise the Royal Docks area in East London.

But, while an F1 spokesperson confirmed to PlanetF1.com that no such plans are in place, Domenicali did recently reveal that the series is “ready” to enter talks over how a London Grand Prix could become reality.

Asked by Sky Sports F1 if there is anything to the talk of a London Grand Prix, Domenicali replied: “Why not? It would be great.

“I think that London has other priorities maybe today to tackle, but of course it would be a great project, we’re going to be ready to discuss it because London, by the way, is the place we have the offices!”

But, asked if that means there are actual conversations ongoing to make the event happen, Domenicali replied: “No, not so far.”

Madrid Grand Prix reportedly on the cards from 2027

Since 1991, the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya has been the exclusive host the of the Spanish Grand Prix, but a report from Mundo Deportivo suggested that this streak could have an end date in sight.

The piece stated that while Formula 1 stressed no deal has been made official, the publication’s sources assumed that the Madrid Grand Prix will come to be in 2027, with Barcelona’s contract currently set to expire after the 2026 staging of the Spanish GP. It is said though that Barcelona would not give up the Spanish GP to Madrid without a fight.

It is claimed that the layout for the street circuit has been designed and would pass the IFEMA Madrid facility, the venue of the first official Formula 1 Exhibition, and take in the new Valdebebas urban development which is under construction.

Watch this space then!

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Hockenheimring doing ‘everything we can’ to bring F1 back

Formula 1 has not visited Germany since 2020, a nation once synonymous with the series, but which is now seemingly fighting to ensure that it can have any sort of presence in the future of the category, not only in terms of hosting a race, but on the driver front too.

Of course, it would be a major boost for Germany if Formula 1 action was present in the country again, and the Hockenheimring would love to make that happen, having last hosted a German Grand Prix back in 2019.

But, the main factor is of course cost, as the venue admitted that if Formula 1 did return, then it could not come at the detriment to their financial stability.

“Of course, we are always in contact with Formula 1 and have never let it go,” the circuit’s managing director Jorn Teske told Auto Bild.

“But that doesn’t necessarily mean that there is always something new to report. We know that both Formula 1 and we have a great interest in finding ways in the medium term to ensure that Formula 1 will be held regularly in Germany. But we also know that it is still not easy.

“We know how important the premier class of motorsport is for a race track on the one hand, but also for an entire region on the other. We know that we owe our worldwide reputation to Formula 1 and we are doing everything we can to ensure that it makes a comeback.

“But we stick to our opinion that a Formula 1 race must not ruin us [financially]. In this respect, we have to look for ways to reconcile the different interests.”

The Hockenheimring hopes that Audi’s arrival in Formula 1 from 2026 could serve to “open up new avenues” in what could be a big shot of momentum for interest in the series in Germany.

Audi has bought a stake in Sauber Motorsport which will see their team, currently operating as Alfa Romeo, become the Audi works team from 2026, using an Audi power unit as the new generation of PUs come into effect from that season.