- Formula 1 returns to Madrid for the first time since 1981 this weekend, with the new 5.416km, 22-corner Madring becoming the 79th circuit to host a World Championship Grand Prix.
- Madring has already demonstrated its unforgiving nature, with a two-day Formula 3 test producing 19 red flags and prompting Williams team principal James Vowles to describe it as a track that “kills cars”.
- Carlos Sainz believes the new circuit is more challenging than expected, comparing its demanding characteristics to established street circuits including Jeddah, Baku and Singapore.
Formula 1 will return to Madrid for the first time since 1981, with the all-new Madring street circuit set to host the Spanish Grand Prix this weekend.
The 5.416km IFEMA Madrid complex will stage the 56th running of the Spanish Grand Prix as a world championship event, while becoming the 79th circuit to host a Formula 1 Grand Prix.
Dubbed an ‘old-school’ layout, with multiple surface changes, unforgiving sections and undulation culminating in the 550m sweeping, banked Turn 12 named La Monumental, Madring’s 22-corner circuit will leave little room for error.
The circuit has been likened to an amalgamation of some of world motorsport’s most daunting street circuits, including Monaco, Macau and even the Jeddah Corniche.
Formula 3 conducted a two-day test at the new circuit ahead of its season finale supporting the Spanish Grand Prix this weekend. The test was interrupted by 19 red flags, with multiple incidents occurring across various parts of the circuit.
“In the Formula 3 test there were 19 red flags and three broken chassis, broken suspensions,” a wary Williams team principal James Vowles told Spanish media outlet Sport.
“OK, they’re Formula 3 drivers, but it’s a track that kills cars.”
Meanwhile, current F3 championship leader and Audi junior driver Freddie Slater expressed his awe at the challenge Madring presented.
“I think this track is incredible to drive, it’s a bit old-school, got some interesting corners and it’s got a lot of character to it,” the Briton said.
Speaking with F1.com, Madrid-born and raised Williams driver Carlos Sainz shared his surprise at the character of the track in person compared with what drivers have experienced thus far in the simulator.
“It is probably more challenging than I thought,” the Spaniard said of La Monumental.
“I thought it would be a flat out, easy flat-out corner and just like an acceleration corner.
“It’s turned out to be much more challenging, at least in the simulator in a good way. With all that banking, all that control of the car through there, it will be a big challenge.
“I think it has a mix of Jeddah and Baku [characteristics], which are probably the two most challenging tracks for a driver – and a bit of Singapore,” he added.
“I think it’s a track that has quite a bit of character when you drive it in the simulator.”
Madring will also become the sixth different circuit to host the Spanish Grand Prix, joining classic venues such as Jerez, the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya and Madrid’s former Formula 1 venue at Jarama.
