Spain’s Public Prosecutor’s Office has opened an investigation into Oriol Sagrera, the former senior official at the Catalan government’s business department, over his move to the firm awarded management of the Circuit de Montmeló.
The inquiry, reported on Monday 7 September, concerns a potential revolving-door case involving a venue whose operation depends on public funding. For Catalan taxpayers, it places the management of public money linked to the Formula 1 circuit under prosecutorial scrutiny, although the opening of an investigation does not establish wrongdoing.
Sagrera held office from 2021 to 2024
Sagrera was secretary general of the Conselleria d’Empresa, the Catalan government’s business department, during the ERC-led Govern between 2021 and 2024. The Public Prosecutor’s Office is examining his subsequent move to the company that received responsibility for running the Montmeló circuit.
The Circuit de Montmeló hosted its most recent Formula 1 race in June. According to elDiario.es, public funding is an essential part of staging and operating major motor-racing events, including the Catalan circuit.
Public funding behind major racing events
The report contrasts the maintained condition of the Montmeló facility with other Formula 1 venues, while identifying reliance on public funds as a shared feature of such events. The investigation focuses on the connection between Sagrera’s former public role and the firm that was granted management of the circuit.
Reported by eldiario.es, cordopolis.eldiario.es, usuarios.eldiario.es, librotea.eldiario.es.
