Barcelona, not Madrid, was where Fernando Alonso chose to spend the days before Formula 1’s first race in the Spanish capital. The Aston Martin driver ran a private session at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya at the wheel of cars from his personal collection, several of them once driven by Senna.

At the centre of the day was the #19 Toleman TG183B-05, Senna’s first Formula 1 car. Alonso also drove a McLaren-Honda from Senna’s championship years with the British team, Crash.net reported.

Alonso shared his own account on social media.

“A very special day at Circuit de Barcelona, enjoying some of my collection cars where they really belong: on the track. F1, historic, GTs AND DTM. Top day. Because collecting is also preserving, enjoying and keeping that history alive.”

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A race Madrid has waited more than 40 years for

The Barcelona session was Alonso’s warm-up for the inaugural Madrid Grand Prix at the new Madring circuit in the Valdebebas district. The 5.416-kilometre layout weaves through the grounds of the IFEMA exhibition centre and marks Formula 1’s return to the Spanish capital after a gap of more than 40 years.

Madrid last hosted a Spanish Grand Prix in 1981, at the Jarama circuit around 30 kilometres north of the city.

For Alonso, the change of venue turns a routine home race into something closer to a debut. The Spanish Grand Prix has been part of his schedule since he arrived in Formula 1 in 2001, but always at Barcelona. This weekend the calendar’s Spanish round moves to the capital for the first time.

Aston Martin deal expires at year’s end

The 45-year-old has not confirmed what he plans to do in 2027. His current Aston Martin contract expires at the end of the season, and Yahoo Sports reports that he has floated a switch to the World Endurance Championship as a possible next step.

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If he does step away from Formula 1, Sunday’s race at the Madring will be his final home Grand Prix in the sport.

The inaugural Madrid Grand Prix takes place on Sunday, 13 September at the Madring, near the IFEMA exhibition centre in north-east Madrid.

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