Fernando Alonso welcomes IndyCar's Barcelona race but warns against aggressive global expansion
)
Two-time Formula 1 world champion Fernando Alonso has welcomed IndyCar's decision to stage a race in Barcelona in 2027, though the veteran Spaniard warned the American open-wheel series against overextending itself with a broad international expansion.
On Friday, North America's premier single-seater championship announced it will head to Spain on July 16–18, 2027, for the inaugural Barcelona Grand Prix at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. The multi-year deal, described at the press conference as a 10-year agreement, marks the series' first event on European soil since 2007 and its first race outside North America since 2013. The fixture is set to be a marquee highlight of the second half of the 2027 calendar and will provide a home race for Barcelona-born IndyCar champion Alex Palou.
“I think it will be fantastic. It is definitely a historic milestone for our country and for Barcelona. That is the major benefit of permanent facilities—you have the opportunity to test on any given day of the year and host a wide variety of championships. Just last week they held a round of the World Endurance Championship (WEC), now IndyCar is coming, and they also stage MotoGP. That is the biggest advantage compared to street circuits. That is why Barcelona is vital for Spanish motorsport; we simply cannot do without this track. It is essential for junior categories and for drivers testing machinery for the first time—Formula Regional, Formula 3, Moto3. You need an active circuit to drive on, and landing IndyCar is further proof of how fortunate we are,” Alonso said ahead of the United States Grand Prix.
Asked whether this is the right step toward global expansion for IndyCar, Alonso pointed to the heavy logistical and financial demands associated with worldwide travel in Formula 1.
“It could be, but IndyCar is heavily focused on the US market. One of the most demanding factors in Formula 1, for both drivers and teams, is the immense expense of traveling all around the globe. Every decision like this brings pros and cons. In my view, the series should stay concentrated in the US and perhaps add only one or two international events, but it is hardly sensible to keep expanding to more locations,” the two-time world champion explained.
,fit(112:112)&format=webp)
,fit(112:112)&format=webp)
&format=webp)
,fit(112:112)&format=webp)
,fit(112:112)&format=webp)