Madrid residents protest Formula 1 Grand Prix over noise and costs

Neighborhood associations and activist groups in Madrid have organized protests against the Spanish Formula 1 Grand Prix held at Ifema. Demonstrators, including the STOP Fórmula 1 platform and the Hortaleza Neighborhood Union, have gathered to denounce what they describe as a “monumental waste” of public resources and the “mercantilization” of local neighborhoods.

Protesters claim the event has cost over 300 million euros in public funds and argue that the race causes noise levels to exceed legal limits for thousands of nearby residents. Activists are conducting sound measurements to potentially file complaints with the Environmental Prosecutor's Office. Beyond the race itself, the groups are protesting broader issues such as housing access, public services, and the impact of long-term construction on urban living conditions.

While organizers reported approximately 500 participants in recent mobilizations, government officials estimated the turnout at around 180 people.