The Formula 1 cars will parade in the center of Barcelona before the Spanish Grand Prix

If you are planning to attend the Spanish Grand Prix in person this year, you may consider arriving a little early and stopping by the Catalan capital. Barcelona is indeed gearing up to roar with the sound of Formula 1 engines on the sidelines of the Grand Prix next June. A unique promotional event since the single-seaters will parade on the iconic avenue of Passeig de Gràcia, lined with Art Nouveau architectural gems such as Gaudí’s Casa Batlló. The spacious avenue will allow drivers to perform spectacular demonstrations, such as “donuts,” much to the delight of the spectators.

A “Fan Village” will also be set up on Plaça Catalunya, the city’s nerve center and starting point of Passeig de Gràcia. On the agenda: stage, fan activities, and food stands. The Williams team, with its drivers Alex Albon and Logan Sargeant, has already confirmed their presence, without specifying, however, if they will be the ones driving the cars during the exhibition.

Air pollution: a shadowy point

The Eixample Respira association, which fights against air pollution in the Eixample district where Passeig de Gràcia is located, strongly criticized the Formula 1 “roadshow” project, calling it “absurd” on the social network X (formerly Twitter).

“The residents are already suffering from a public health crisis caused by poor air quality and noise,” the association denounces in a statement. “Organizing a Formula 1 exhibition in the city center, where thousands of people live, many of whom are particularly vulnerable to the effects of pollution, is simply absurd,” they add.

Patim una crisi de salut pública provocada per la mala qualitat de l’aire i el soroll.

És un despropòsit plantejar una exhibició de Fórmula 1 al centre urbà, on hi viuen milers de persones, moltes d’elles especialment vulnerables als efectes de la contaminació. pic.twitter.com/qUzSfy2ttu

— Eixample Respira (@eixrespira) April 5, 2024

For your information, the Spanish Grand Prix takes place every year at the Circuit de Catalunya de Montmelo, north of Barcelona, and will continue to do so until 2026. Last January, Formula 1 announced that the Grand Prix will be held in Madrid from 2026 to 2035. An agreement has been reached with IFEMA Madrid for the construction of a new circuit combining urban and extra-urban sections. The Catalan government, on its part, ensures that negotiations are ongoing to extend its contract with Formula 1 regarding the Circuit de Catalunya.