Formula E co-founder Alberto Longo is overwhelmed by the response in Madrid: "We are basically sold out"

The Madrid E-Prix on 21 March is already a great success in the eyes of Formula E co-founder and Chief Championship Officer Alberto Longo. The strong support from local politicians fills the Spaniard with pride, and tickets are almost completely sold out. The race on the track north of Madrid was originally more of a complete coincidence.

The pre-season tests for the eleventh season of the Formula E World Championship had to be moved from Valencia to Madrid at short notice in November 2024 after the Valencia region was hit by severe floods. However, as Longo reports, Formula E received positive feedback from the teams about the race track after the test drives.

"I think it was very important to carry out the tests there and see how the cars behaved," Longo explained in a media roundtable that was also attended by e-Formula.news. "I remember as soon as we got back from Madrid that I spoke to most of the people in charge. And they all told me: 'Listen, why don't we consider Jarama?' The test drives went really well, and that is basically the main reason why we will be racing there in the next few days."

"Hopefully we will stay for many, many years"

The Madrid E-Prix is also a major highlight for the metropolis, as Longo emphasises: "We are talking about 24,000, 25,000 people who will completely fill the Jarama circuit. We are very pleased with the response that the race has received in the community," Formula E and the race track in Jarama belong together, describes the Formula E co-founder. "Hopefully we will stay in Jarama for many, many years," says Longo.

The race in the Spanish capital is as good as sold out, which fills Longo with pride. According to Longo, 98 per cent of the available tickets are already sold out. Ninety per cent of the tickets were available for free sale, with ten per cent of the tickets going to Citroen and Cupra as contingents. The Spanish car manufacturer is the title partner of the Madrid race and played a key role in making the Madrid E-Prix possible in the first place. Citroen also has a large market share in Spain, which is why they also secured some of the tickets.

But Longo also credits the only Spanish driver on the grid, Pepe Marti, who is driving the number 3 car for Cupra Kiro, with an important part of the success in selling tickets. The Spaniard's performance in his very first Formula E season has been impressive, and he is currently in eleventh place in the world championship.

Pepe Marti's performance "the reason why we are sold out"

"If Pepe has achieved anything, it is to show us that he will be a top Formula E driver," explains Longo. "I have no doubt about that. If he can do that in his first year and after just five races he already has 17 points and is in 11th place, then he has a very promising future ahead of him. I'm delighted with Pepe's performance and probably, why not say it, that's the reason why we're basically sold out in Madrid."

Also, the institutional support from regional politics is overwhelming, Longo announces: "There will be a fantastic event on Thursday in La Puerta del Sol, which is something like the kilometre zero of Spain. And then to the race: There will be important personalities coming." The anticipation for the event in the Spanish capital is already high.

The race starts on Saturday, 21 March 2026 at 3:05 pm CET, in exactly one week. e-Formula.news will be there for you to report on the action.