P1racenews AI automatic summary:
1996 Formula 1 World Champion Damon Hill has pondered whether the increasing presence of street circuits on the calendar is
“This week it was announced that the Spanish Grand Prix will be moved from Barcelona to Madrid starting in 2026, with a semi-permanent track based around the IFEMA convention center. This move means that one-third of the Formula 1 calendar will consist of street venues, if there are still 24 races in the calendar. The engine regulations for the new era have been set since 2022, with revised units running on sustainable fuels and aiming for a 50-50 split in power output between the internal combustion engine and electrical power. There have been concerns among teams about energy recovery on the straights, with Max Verstappen even calling the next-generation cars “terrible” last year. Some believe that the shift towards street tracks is a response to these issues. Despite the changing dynamic of the sport, Damon Hill is optimistic about the addition of Madrid to the series, hoping for exciting racing. He also believes that classic venues like Spa should be kept alongside these new street tracks.”
