Friday, April 25. After months of uncertainty and the long tender process to select partners for the circuit’s construction, Madrid’s path to joining Formula 1 officially began today with a symbolic step, ahead of its scheduled debut next September.
As per tradition, before the actual construction work starts in May, a symbolic ceremony was held on Friday with the laying of the first stone, attended by Carlos Sainz Jr. The Madrid-born driver, as revealed by project leaders, was involved together with his father in defining some layout details and will also serve as ambassador for the Grand Prix.
During the media presentation, a virtual lap of the track was shown via simulator, illustrating the technical challenges of the MadRing: a 5.4 km track made up of 22 corners winding around the IFEMA Madrid area in a hybrid configuration.
While part of the circuit will be permanent, other structures in the fair area will be assembled and dismantled for the Grand Prix. According to organizers, the Madrid track will be among the most demanding on the calendar, with a mix of very high-speed zones, including sections with steep banking similar to Zandvoort, as well as slower corners with heavy braking, designed to provide overtaking opportunities.
The lap will start with a sharp braking zone into the first chicane, although the distance between the start line and Turn 1 will be only 200 meters, which may limit overtaking moves at the start. The main straight itself will measure 589 meters.
After the chicane, a stretch of more than 670 meters follows on a slight uphill gradient, where speeds of up to 340 km/h can be reached. This section leads into a very technical area made up of three slow corners introducing the first tunnel. The track will then continue uphill before beginning a descent.
Before reaching the most spectacular part of the circuit, there will be another fast section followed by a second chicane—Turns 10 and 11. The first will be a tight 57° right-hander, while the second, to the left, will open up, allowing drivers to maintain higher speeds.
The highlight of the lap will undoubtedly be Turn 12, nicknamed “La Monumental.” Inspired by circuits like Indianapolis and Zandvoort, this long right-hand corner will feature a gradient of up to 24% and stretch half a kilometer, putting tyre wear to the test.
This will be a technically demanding area for teams but also a visually spectacular one, featuring a grandstand with 45,000 seats and expected to be a major draw for spectators. From there, the track will present a series of medium-speed corners, including a second tunnel, where cars will likely suffer from dirty air, making it harder to stay close to the car in front.
Moreover, based on current information, the track appears to be relatively narrow, which could further limit overtaking opportunities. The lap will end with the most twisty part of the circuit, featuring tight corners running alongside the IFEMA Madrid exhibition halls before rejoining the main straight.
Ride onboard for a lap of F1’s newest circuit 🇪🇸
The 'Madring' will feature 22 corners and run around the IFEMA MADRID exhibition centre, thoughts?
P.S – love the unusual racing line at 0:28 😅 pic.twitter.com/tUCrz8Eoka
— The Race (@wearetherace) April 25, 2025
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