First Hot Lap of Madrid Circuit Impresses with Elevated Turn

First Hot Lap of Madrid Circuit Impresses with Elevated Turn – VIDEO. The Madrid circuit is already a reality: the analysis of the hot lap.

While waiting to understand whether Spain will host one or two Grand Prix from 2026 onwards, it is already possible to hit the track, albeit virtually, on the brand-new semi-city circuit in Madrid, officially announced on January 23. The layout, designed by the Emilian engineer Jarno Zaffelli, covers a length of 5474 meters to be traveled clockwise. There will be a total of 20 curves, with one in particular promising, according to some Spanish sources, a banking even higher than the iconic turn 3 at Zandvoort.

The Madrid circuit is already a reality: the analysis of the hot lap
According to Formula 1 estimates, the lap time will be around 1 minute and 32 seconds, although Alvaro Carreton, an E-sports driver for the Williams team, has posted a hot lap on his social profiles on the Spanish track, stopping the stopwatch at 1:24.181.

Clearly, the timed lap is to be taken with a grain of salt, as it is a simulation with a 2023 car, while the first edition of the Madrid GP will coincide with the debut of the new regulatory era, which will once again overhaul the appearance of the single-seaters and the Power Units.

However, from the video in question, it is possible to glean some very interesting insights. The most iconic point that immediately catches the eye is the elevated section that connects the IFEMA pavilions to the Valdebebas area, with a turn that, as mentioned earlier, should exceed even the 35% inclination of turn 3 at Zandvoort.

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The cars will also pass under the M-11 highway bridge twice, with turn 4 to be taken almost flat out, leading into a section reminiscent of the infamous Corkscrew at Laguna Seca.

The last two sharp 90-degree turns are much like the final sector of Sochi, with the finish line located near the entrance to the IFEMA congress.

An extremely technical and fast track that underwent several revisions before final approval: “From the initial proposal to where we’ve got to, there have been around 24 track models, as well as numerous investigations into sub-models and different details,” explains Craig Wilson, Head of Vehicle Performance for F1.

“Now we have a concept we’re happy to proceed with development, and we’re very excited to see it take shape. I think it will be a great challenge for the drivers.”

Despite being classified as a city circuit, it will also include permanent areas: “It’s a middle ground between what is considered a normal road layout and a permanent circuit-style layout. Many places will have a temporary circuit-type installation, but there are other sections that may look or feel a bit different depending on the final implementation decisions to adapt to the IFEMA site.”