Lewis Hamilton believes that Formula 1 should not lose the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya from the calendar, amid speculation about a future race in Madrid. The current Spanish GP contract is set to run until 2026, but F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali reportedly met with officials to discuss the possibility of hosting a Grand Prix in Madrid. Whilst having more than one Grand Prix in a country can happen, few expect Spain to be able to host more than one race per season. The Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya has hosted Formula 1 races since 1991, and has undergone several tweaks to the layout in that time. For 2023, the track has removed the chicane that was situated before the final corner in favour of a higher-speed end to the lap which could improve overtaking opportunities.
Hamilton, who is the joint-holder of the record for the most Spanish Grands Prix wins with Michael Schumacher, was asked for his thoughts on the prospect of a Grand Prix in Madrid. "As long as it's not like Valencia was, which wasn't the most enjoyable track to drive," Hamilton told media, including RacingNews365.com . "I don't think I would want to lose Barcelona. One, I love the city. I do think it's really important we keep some of the classic circuits, at least the ones that provide great racing. "Budapest is spectacular. Silverstone is spectacular. This [Barcelona] track as well. There are a lot of really great original circuits that we should keep. Maybe some that don't provide the greatest racing, we should maybe switch those out. "I just think about the heritage of the sport and we've got to make sure we hold onto those which I think are the pillars of what this sport is in my opinion."
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