The Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya has announced that it has sold out for the 2022 edition of the competition after a two-year limited presence at COVID-19, with 300,000 flocking to Barcelona over the weekend.
But it soon became clear that the place was not ready for the sold-out crowd, with long queues forming around limited concessions for food and drink and toilets.
Especially on Saturday and Sunday, the heavy traffic jam around the circle stopped the ground traffic, and then the fans struggled to find a parking space. The small Montmelo station also struggled to transport fans to and from the city center during rush hour.
Crowd problems have been exacerbated by the heat, with Catalonia experiencing its hottest week of the year as temperatures rose above 35 degrees over the weekend, leaving many fans to cope with the weather without proper supplies.
Many fans expressed their dissatisfaction on social media, with some even suggesting that they would not return for the day of the race, even though they had bought a ticket.
Fans watch Sebastian Vettel, Aston Martin AMR22 and Lance Stroll, Aston Martin AMR22, on stage
Photo: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images
Hours after the race, F1 issued a statement calling congestion problems “unacceptable”, urging organizers to put in place a plan to avoid such a crash next year.
“The sheer number of fans at this event, both inside and off the track, has created traffic problems for fans,” F1 said in a statement.
“We have informed the promoter that this is not acceptable and needs to be corrected for next season.”
Several parts of the Montmelo track have been renovated this year, but some of its main visual aids have remained virtually untouched over the years.
As the site of Max Verstappen’s first Formula One victory and a popular tourist destination, the Grand of Spain has seen an influx of Dutch fans traveling to Catalonia in recent years.
Carlos Sainz’s improved results with Ferrari and the return of Fernando Alonso also prompted local fans to find their way back to the place they have hosted Formula One racing since its inception in 1991.
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