Barcelona asks to be the fixed headquarters of Formula 1 and to be forgiven this year's canon

The Spanish Grand Prix has been presented in Montmeló. Ramon Tremosa, president of the Barcelona Circuit, has taken the opportunity to state that Catalonia wants to be a fixed date on the Formula 1 calendar. Barcelona recently renewed its one-year contract on January 11, which is why the Grand Prix of Spain of 2022 is in the air. Furthermore, after the announcement that next season will be run in Miami, there has been talk of the possibility of Catalonia leaving the calendar. “We cannot lose this continuity because if you leave the calendar it is very difficult to enter. I want to put a lot of value on the collaboration at the institutional level that we have had ”, said Ramón Tremosa in this regard. “Our will is to continue being a fixed place in the Formula 1 calendar and not go into rotation,” he added. To justify the continuity of the Gran Circo in Barcelona, he has argued that each euro of public investment is increased by up to 7 and 10 euros in the GDP of the Catalan economy. On the other hand, he pointed out: “Catalonia is a country of motors, fans, champions, factories …”. Formula 1, no public in Catalonia For now, Josep Lluís Santamaria, general director of the Barcelona Circuit, has confirmed that they are negotiating with the leaders of Formula 1 a long-term contract. They are also trying to get F1 to forgive them the fee they had to pay this season for hosting the Grand Prix since it will not have the public income. “It is a pity that this Grand Prix arrives so soon because surely a little later, like It happens with the MotoGP race, it could have been an audience ”, lamented Josep Lluís Santamaria.It should be noted that Catalonia will host Formula 1 between May 7 and 9, while the MotoGP Grand Prix will take place on the weekend of June 4. “Without an audience, revenues drop to zero, not only from the sale of tickets, also for hospitality income. Cleaning and control costs will also be reduced and will focus on the organizational part. Last year, not having an audience meant that there was no canon and that is why we are working to explain and convey well the conditions in which we will do the test and seek this canon that is as minimal as possible. Last year Formula 1 paid a million euros to cover additional costs and this year they will come with their motorhomes and we will have the usual paddock and not with the booths that we put up last year. We will have to do the PCR test protocol and we will start doing them this Wednesday. We will work to try to find that the canon does not exist or that it is the minimum possible “, assured the general director of the Barcelona Circuit. The Count of Godó, with the public Ramón Tremosa has also spoken about this:” We are happy because with vaccines we see the light at the end of the tunnel although, this year, unfortunately we will not have an audience as if we have had these days at the Godó de tennis. ”“ Five weeks ago, when the decisions were made, the data that would be in May was not known. A decision had to be made on April 5 and then the principle of prudence prevailed. Not because of what could happen inside the facility, but because of everything that involves mobilizing 60,000 people at the entrances, which is very different from having 1,000 people for two hours in a tennis match. It’s a shame because if it were held in June, like MotoGP, surely there would have been an audience.Now it is not possible “, has insisted the president of the Circuit of Barcelona. Regarding the possibility that Formula 1 continues to be held in Catalonia, Ramón Tremosa has added:” Negotiations are underway and we will be discreet when giving a thermometer of the moment. We see a good predisposition but the negotiation is not closed. Formula 1 is very interested in Barcelona continuing to host this event. We are hopeful of reaching an agreement that is good for the institutions. ”Another golden age of F1 in Spain Two regulars, Pedro Martínez de la Rosa and Marc Gené, were also present at the presentation of the Spanish Formula 1 Grand Prix. The first commented: “We have two Spaniards in F1, and one of them is a two-time champion and the other drives a Ferrari, we are facing a second golden age of Formula 1 in Spain.” Marc Gené, for his part, declared: “There is a lot of talk about Formula 1, practically as much as in the days when Alonso regularly won races.” In addition, regarding the arrival of Carlos Sainz to Ferrari he added: “Despite having changed teams and having only been able to do a day and a half of preseason, in the second race he already managed to roll at a pace similar to that of Leclerc. We have the best couple of drivers alongside Mercedes ”.