The Madring is the biggest addition to the 2026 Formula 1 calendar. The brand-new circuit, which will host the Spanish Grand Prix after taking over the event previously held in Barcelona, is scheduled to welcome Formula 1 from September 11 to 13. Thanks to an inspection lap carried out by Carlos Sainz and a subsequent media session, several interesting details about the new venue in the Spanish capital have already emerged.
The Williams driver completed a demonstration lap of the circuit, which is still under construction in terms of infrastructure, using a road car. Afterward, he met with journalists and provided valuable insights into the layout, offering an early look at some of the track’s most important features.
“It’s clear that this is a circuit that really has everything: fast corners, slow corners and long straights. I think it’s a very complete track and, in the end, the best cars will remain the best cars. There won’t be any secrets,” said Carlos Sainz.
“I think what we’re seeing this year will probably be repeated, but I’m convinced that the current competitive order won’t be the same one we see in September, because every team is bringing upgrades race after race. So the situation could look very different from what it is today.”
Plenty of curiosity surrounding the Monumental corner
The Madring will become one of only a handful of circuits on the Formula 1 calendar to feature a banked corner. Zandvoort is already known for its banking, and Madrid will join that exclusive group thanks to the spectacular section known as the “Monumental.” Positioned roughly halfway around the lap, the corner’s steep banking has already impressed those who have seen it in person.
“I think the Monumental corner is located roughly halfway around the circuit, so by the time we get there we’ll probably already be running in a line rather than side by side. However, I believe it’s a corner that will allow drivers to choose different lines, either high or low. Obviously, the main racing line will be the one on the lower part — the shortest route — because it allows you to cover less distance. I also think it will be a full-throttle corner and could almost behave like a straight, helping drivers benefit from the slipstream before the next turn.”
“First of all, I have to say that the Monumental is a corner that really impressed me from the moment I saw the design. What struck me most was the fact that Formula 1 was willing to approve a corner like this for the calendar. And Pirelli also gave it the green light, because it’s not an easy corner for a Formula 1 car: the stress placed on the tyres will be enormous. It’s essentially a banked 180-degree corner with an incredible gradient. I’m sure it will become one of the defining challenges of the season. Teams and engine manufacturers will have to prepare carefully to understand the best way to tackle it. So I’m all for it, because it gives the circuit character and personality.” – the former Ferrari driver added.
Carlos Sainz also identified the section of the track that could deliver the most excitement for drivers. While the Monumental is expected to be a major highlight, he believes the real challenge will come from a sequence of linked corners that transition between the street circuit sections and the permanent part of the venue.
“I think the entire area around the Monumental — both the fast chicane before it and after it, as well as the following sequence of linked corners — will provide the biggest thrill for drivers, because that’s probably where we’ll see the highest lateral loads.”
“I like the fact that, within a street circuit, there are fast corners and flowing sequences. As I said before, the transition from a street section into a permanent circuit section and then back into a street section is what makes this track so different from any other circuit currently on the Formula 1 calendar.”
Overtaking opportunities are there
A spectacular banked corner and a unique combination of permanent and street-circuit sections are important features, but a modern Formula 1 track also needs genuine overtaking opportunities. According to Carlos Sainz, the Madring appears to offer several locations where drivers should be able to launch an attack.
“Yes, there’s a clear overtaking opportunity into Turn 1 and another at Turn 4 — I believe it’s Turn 4 — at the end of the back straight, which is almost one kilometre long. With the performance of current Formula 1 cars, overtaking there should be relatively straightforward.”
“Then I think there are another one or two overtaking spots that I would call wild cards: the braking zone after the Monumental and another heavy braking area at the third-to-last corner.”
Few concerns about superclipping and energy management
Another important topic with the current generation of Formula 1 cars concerns energy recovery, battery deployment and the phenomenon known as superclipping.
According to Carlos Sainz, the Madrid circuit should not suffer significantly from either superclipping or energy-management issues: “I think it’s a track that, thanks to its heavy braking zones and long straights, shouldn’t suffer too much from superclipping or energy-management problems. “It’s true that with straights this long we’ll probably still reach the end of them with an empty battery, as often happens, but it’s also true that there are very heavy braking zones that allow us to recover energy. So I don’t expect any major issues.” – the former Ferrari driver pointed out.
“The biggest difficulties we’ve had this year occur on circuits where fast corners are followed by long straights, because in those situations you simply don’t have the opportunity to recover energy.”
