Barcelona officials have ruled out joining Formula 1's new race rotation system, insisting they are focused on securing an annual grand prix renewal.
From 2026, Madrid will join the F1 calendar with a ten-year contract, marking the final year of Barcelona's existing deal to host the Spanish Grand Prix.
However, Pau Relat, president of Fira Barcelona, the organisation that manages the Circuit de Catalunya, remains optimistic about securing an extension.
"The Circuit (de Catalunya) has its own identity, its own life and is independent of any other grand prix that may be held," Relat told Diario Sport.
"From a market perspective, there is room for two grands prix in Spain and we will work to make the renewal a reality," he added.
One factor working in Barcelona's favour is its ongoing relationship with MotoGP, which recently renewed its race deal while F1's commercial rights holder, Liberty Media, is taking ownership of the motorcycle series.
"Common sense tells us that if Dorna is part of Liberty and has decided to renew its contract for five years in Barcelona, taking into account the quality of the infrastructure and the organisational capacity, this is a point in our favour," Relat said.
"It makes us very optimistic in this regard."
Several Barcelona officials have indicated that discussions with F1 will remain behind closed doors.
Relat did, however, confirm that Barcelona is not interested in a rotation system similar to Spa-Francorchamps, which has agreed to host the Belgian GP four times over the six-year period from 2026 to 2031.
"At the moment we are not considering a rotation system," he said.
"We have a contract until 2026, so we have time and what we intend is to give continuity to a grand prix that has been held here since 1992 without interruption.
"This is the will of both the Catalan government, which is the owner of the facility, and of Fira."
While negotiations with F1 continue, Relat made it clear that Barcelona will keep discussions confidential.
"I would say that one of the keys is maximum discretion," he stated. "It is an absolutely essential condition for things to happen."
