F1 HEADS TO THE MADRING FOR THE FIRST SPANISH GP IN MADRID
Formula 1 is set to visit the Madring for the first time this weekend, as the championship reaches the final part of its European season. The new circuit will host the Spanish Grand Prix from 2026, replacing the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya as the home of the event. After years of racing at the Montmeló track, F1 will now discover a completely new venue in Madrid.
The Madring will be one of the main talking points of the weekend. Almost none of the drivers have had the chance to race on the circuit, making preparation and adaptation especially important. Ferrari is the only team to have already completed a few laps, using its final filming day of the season to cover the 200 kilometres allowed by the sporting regulations.
However, the information collected by Ferrari may not be as useful as it first appears. The team ran on a very dirty track, with Pirelli demonstration tyres and, at times, a car prepared for filming rather than a full race weekend. As a result, it is difficult to know how much of that experience will help the team when the real action begins.
One of the most interesting parts of the circuit will be The Monumental. This steeply banked corner is expected to be one of the biggest challenges for the drivers, with a 24% banking angle over 550 metres. It is even steeper than the banked corner at Zandvoort and will create the highest vertical load of the season. The corner has already impressed drivers who have experienced it in racing cars, as well as Carlos Sainz, who has driven it in a road car.
What does Pirelli bring to the Madring
Pirelli will bring the C2 Hard, C3 Medium and C4 Soft compounds for the first race at the Madring. Pirelli has also used computer simulations and three years of layout data to prepare for the new circuit, while engineers have checked the asphalt to improve their understanding of the track.
The track map
The new active aero system will also be an important part of the weekend. Madrid will have two marked Straight mode zones: the main straight between Turn 22 and Turn 1, and the Ribera del Sena straight between Turns 3 and 4. Straight mode is a low-drag setting that can be used by all drivers when they are in the correct zone. It is not an overtaking aid, and the FIA has limited its use to just two sections of the lap.
While the circuit will be the main focus, the championship battle will also return to the spotlight. Andrea Kimi Antonelli arrives in Madrid as the leader of the Drivers’ Championship, but several rivals are still hoping to close the gap before the season moves to the American races. With a new track and limited experience for everyone, the Spanish Grand Prix could offer an important opportunity for those looking to change the direction of the title fight.
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