Ferrari: 200 km for Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton in Madrid
Ferrari has become the first Formula 1 team to take to the brand-new Madring circuit, completing the maximum 200 kilometers permitted during an official Filming Day. Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton shared driving duties in the SF-26, making history as the first Formula 1 drivers to lap the new semi-street circuit that will host the Spanish Grand Prix later this season.
Although the session was subject to all the restrictions imposed by the regulations for a Filming Day, it still provided Ferrari with a valuable opportunity to familiarize itself with the Spanish venue. At the same time, the circuit’s organizers were able to verify that all operational systems, procedures and infrastructure functioned correctly under real Formula 1 conditions.
The filming day
Just over two months before the inaugural Formula 1 Spanish Grand Prix at the Madring, a Formula 1 car has finally completed its first laps around the new circuit in the Spanish capital. Ferrari carried out the historic run on Thursday, July 9, using the SF-26 to cover the full 200 kilometers allowed under the regulations for a promotional Filming Day.
Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton split the driving responsibilities throughout the session, underlining how valuable Ferrari considered the opportunity to gain early experience on a completely new circuit. While a Filming Day is primarily intended for promotional activities, the chance to collect information from the venue before any rival team represents an important advantage ahead of the race weekend.
Regulations impose several limitations during these sessions, including the mandatory use of Pirelli demonstration tyres rather than the race compounds used during Grand Prix weekends. Even so, being the first team to run at Madrid allowed Ferrari to gather useful reference data about the circuit’s characteristics, surface and layout.
The session also proved highly beneficial for the event organizers. Beyond the promotional aspect, the running enabled officials to validate the operation of safety systems, race procedures and trackside infrastructure under genuine Formula 1 conditions. Furthermore, the successful completion of the day helped dispel concerns surrounding the construction schedule of the new venue, reinforcing confidence that the circuit will be fully ready in time for September’s inaugural Spanish Grand Prix.
Exploring the new Madring circuit
The outing also gave Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton their first opportunity to experience the only brand-new circuit joining the Formula 1 calendar this season. The Madring stretches for 5.4 kilometers and features a demanding layout made up of 22 corners, combining permanent sections with public roads to create a modern semi-street circuit.
Among its standout features is La Monumental, an impressive 550-meter high-speed right-hand corner with an extraordinary 24% banking. The spectacular section is expected to become one of the circuit’s signature landmarks, offering both a striking visual spectacle and a major technical challenge for teams and drivers alike.
The combination of high speed, sustained lateral forces and steep banking will place significant stress on the tyres, making tyre management one of the key factors during the Spanish Grand Prix weekend. Collecting early information in these conditions could therefore prove particularly valuable for Ferrari as engineers begin building simulation models and preparing baseline setup data for the first competitive event at the Madring.
While every team will arrive at Madrid with extensive simulator work behind them, Ferrari’s unique opportunity to complete the circuit’s first Formula 1 laps provides the Scuderia with a small but potentially meaningful head start. The knowledge gathered by Charles Leclerc, Lewis Hamilton and the engineering team during this Filming Day could offer useful insights as Ferrari prepares for one of the most anticipated additions to the Formula 1 calendar.
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