Exclusive: Barcelona discussed as possible option for changes to Season 13 Formula E calendar

The Formula E calendar for Season 13, the first to feature the new Gen4 car, is already the largest in the electric racing series’ history, with 21 races across 13 cities. However, that may not yet be the final schedule: Possible changes to the already announced calendar have apparently also been discussed within the championship. As e-Formula.news understands, Barcelona was mentioned as a hypothetical option in this context.

An additional race in Barcelona would further expand Formula E’s presence on the Iberian Peninsula. With the race in the Spanish capital already scheduled as a double-header in 2027, a potential Barcelona E-Prix would become the third Formula E race in Spain. China is currently the only country set to host as many races in Season 13, with two further events in Shanghai planned alongside the Sanya E-Prix.

Formula E as a replacement for Formula 1?

Holding the race on the weekend immediately before or after the Sanya E-Prix would be extremely difficult from a logistical perspective. After all, more than 10,000 kilometres separate the island of Hainan and Catalonia as the crow flies.

Assuming the dates already announced remain unchanged, the weekend after Easter would appear to be one of the few conceivable options, most likely 3 April.

There also appear to be no available dates during the tightly packed European section of the calendar. The Monaco E-Prix is scheduled for the weekend immediately after the Berlin E-Prix. Just two weeks later, the championship will race at Brands Hatch, followed three weeks later by Formula E’s debut at Zandvoort.

The two weekends before the Zandvoort race are occupied by the Formula 1 Monaco Grand Prix and the 24 Hours of Le Mans, while Formula E is due to travel to Madrid just one week after the event in the Netherlands.

Remaining in Spain after Madrid would not appear to be an option either, as the Shanghai E-Prix is already scheduled for two weeks later. Without further changes to the calendar, an additional European race weekend would therefore be difficult to accommodate.

An additional race in Barcelona would consequently be challenging to integrate into the existing schedule. Whether such an option will be pursued any further remains open. Any changes to the already announced calendar would also require the unanimous approval of all participating teams.

It is conceivable that some teams could oppose the proposal, which would effectively end any prospect of it being implemented in Season 13. Final approval would also have to be granted by the FIA World Motor Sport Council, which is not currently scheduled to meet again until October.