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Welcome to Madrid, Spain’s capital city and the home of the brand-new MADRING, a blend of public roads and a purpose-built race track, forming the newest track on the F1 calendar since Las Vegas joined in 2023. Formula 1 hasn’t raced in Madrid since 1981, and the MADRING will be the new home of the Spanish Grand Prix, replacing Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.
Since it’s a new track for all drivers, we thought it made sense to put together a track guide ahead of lights out on Sunday.
Here’s everything you need to know about the MADRING.
Announced in 2024, the MADRING will host the Spanish Grand Prix from 2026 to 2035. The circuit is only five minutes away from Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) and is pledged to be the most accessible circuit on the F1 calendar, with direct Metro lines from central Madrid and walkable access to most of the track.
At 5.414 km (3.364 mi), it’s a medium-length circuit, with 22 corners of varying speeds and tightness, incorporating the streets of Madrid and custom-built track sections surrounding the IFEMA Exhibition Centre. In fact, 43% of the lap is spent in a corner, such is the flowing and unforgiving nature of the MADRING. It’s a track estimated to have four or five hotspots for overtaking, including the hairpin of Turn 1 and the sharp right-hander at Turn 17.
These overtaking opportunities include a real mix of corner types and elevation changes. After exiting Turn 3, drivers are launched onto Hortaleza, the longest straight on the track, with estimated top speeds of 210 mph, before dipping under one of two tunnels and climbing uphill to El Bunker, a blind-apexed, fast right-hander.
La Monumental, Turn 12, is the longest banked curve on the F1 calendar, at 550m long, and will be a true test of tyre management during Sunday’s Grand Prix. Its 24% gradient will facilitate the viewing spot of over 45,000 fans, who will surround the corner in a similar fashion to the stadium section in Mexico City for a truly immersive F1 experience.
Turns 14-16 are fast, flowing changes of direction, similar to the Maggotts/Becketts section at Silverstone, before a sudden, sharp right-hander at Turn 17 demands everything from the car and drivers. Expect lock-ups here, as drivers will need to brake and turn simultaneously. The lap ends by heading back towards the IFEMA Centre, with two 90° right-handers taking us to the start/finish line.
Yuki and Arvid got to grips with the circuit during Friday’s practice sessions. Here’s what they thought after their first laps of the MADRING.
“The car is quick and the changes we made from FP1 to FP2 really improved the pace,” Alan Permane, Team Principal of Visa Cash App Racing Bulls, said following the end of Friday’s sessions. “The track is very impressive and it’s clear a lot of time has gone into creating an interesting circuit. We have a strong package and we feel confident aiming for Q3 with both cars.”
After P7 in FP1 and P4 in FP2, Arvid weighed in on his first Friday in Madrid: “We showed good speed throughout the day and we were quick on every lap we completed. It wasn’t nice to end on a crash, and I’m sorry to the team for the extra work. I’ll focus on resetting tonight and prepare for Qualifying.”
Yuki summarised his Friday in Madrid: “It wasn’t the cleanest day, but I’ve enjoyed the new track, it’s super fun to drive. Confidence is key, so losing time in FP1 wasn’t ideal, but overall I have a good feeling in the car. The focus is on pulling everything together for Qualifying tomorrow.”
We’ll be back on Monday with our full race report from the FORMULA 1 TAG HEUER GRAN PREMIO DE ESPAÑA 2026.
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