Welcome to the Madring, a new, brutal and unforgiving F1 challenge for Spanish Grand Prix
New hybrid street circuit has fast corners and virtually no margin for error – but limited overtaking opportunities
TL;DR
- The Madring circuit is a new hybrid track for the Spanish Grand Prix, combining roads and purpose-built sections.
- It features narrow sections, fast corners, and walls, leaving minimal room for error, described by drivers as 'mental' and 'risky'.
- Early practice sessions saw crashes, including one where a car caught fire, and several red flags, with F3 tests resulting in 19 red flags and three chassis damage.
- Drivers like George Russell and Lewis Hamilton have noted its challenging nature, comparing it to Monaco but with higher speeds and less margin.
- Concerns exist about overtaking opportunities due to the circuit's design, particularly angled braking zones, potentially leading to a procession.
- Despite concerns, the circuit aims to provide a spectacle with high speeds and a unique banked corner called La Monumental.
- Turn eight, 'El Bunker', is named after historical World War II bunkers preserved as part of the track's construction.
- The circuit's location near the Institución Ferial de Madrid convention centre aligns with F1's goal of 'destination races'.