Ferrari exploit Formula 1 rule loophole as Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc gain early experience of Madrid’s new Grand Prix circuit
Ferrari have reportedly taken advantage of a little-known provision within Formula 1’s sporting regulations to give Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc valuable track time at the all-new MadRing circuit in Madrid, months before the venue stages its first Formula 1 Spanish Grand Prix.
The visit came at an ideal moment for the Scuderia. Fresh from Charles Leclerc’s impressive victory at the British Grand Prix, confidence inside Ferrari has risen significantly, while Lewis Hamilton has continued to build momentum with a string of increasingly competitive performances during the 2026 Formula 1 season.
With the championship preparing to resume at Spa-Francorchamps for the Belgian Grand Prix, Ferrari took the opportunity to familiarize both of its drivers with one of the newest additions to the Formula 1 calendar. Although the session was officially classified as a filming day rather than a conventional test, it still provided valuable information for both the drivers and the team.
Ferrari reportedly identified a legal opportunity within the Formula 1 regulations
The MadRing, the brand-new 5.4-kilometre street circuit built around Madrid’s IFEMA exhibition complex, will make its Formula 1 debut by hosting the Spanish Grand Prix later this season. Barcelona will remain on the calendar as part of a rotational agreement, making Madrid one of the most anticipated new venues in recent years.
Ferrari used one of its allocated filming days at the circuit, with Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc both completing demonstration laps while the team captured promotional footage that was later published across Ferrari’s official social media channels.
While some observers questioned whether allowing a team to drive on a brand-new Formula 1 circuit before its inaugural Grand Prix could create an unfair sporting advantage, reports suggest Ferrari acted entirely within the regulations.
According to the Italian edition of Motorsport.com, Ferrari identified what has been described as a regulatory “grey area.” Current Formula 1 rules impose strict limitations on Tests of Previous Cars (TPC), but there is no regulation preventing a team from using one of its official filming days at a newly constructed Grand Prix circuit. Ferrari therefore remained fully compliant while still giving Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc an opportunity to learn key characteristics of the layout.
The report also stated that Ferrari strongly rejected speculation suggesting the filming day had been financed by the Madrid Grand Prix organizers. The Italian team reportedly insisted that claims of outside funding were entirely inaccurate.
Strict limitations remained despite Ferrari’s early Madrid running
Although Ferrari successfully completed the filming day, the session was far from an unrestricted test. Formula 1 regulations still impose several important limitations designed to prevent teams from gaining excessive performance advantages.
The total distance was limited to just 200 kilometres, significantly reducing the amount of meaningful data that could be collected. In addition, Ferrari was not permitted to use the latest 2026 Pirelli Formula 1 tyres, meaning Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc were unable to evaluate the circuit under true race-weekend conditions.
Even with those restrictions, the experience could still prove valuable. Both drivers have now completed laps around the circuit, learned its sequence of corners, braking zones and elevation changes, and gained an early understanding of the rhythm required at what promises to be one of the fastest new additions to the Formula 1 calendar.
That familiarity could offer Ferrari a small but potentially meaningful advantage when Formula 1 arrives in Madrid for the first Spanish Grand Prix at the venue later this year, particularly during the opening practice sessions when every team will still be gathering its initial reference data.
Carlos Sainz previously praised the character of the MadRing circuit
Ferrari is not the first Formula 1 team to experience the new layout. Earlier this year, Williams driver Carlos Sainz became the first active Formula 1 competitor to sample sections of the MadRing after driving a Ford Mustang alongside Formula 1 journalist Lawrence Barretto.
Following those demonstration laps, Carlos Sainz admitted that the circuit had exceeded his expectations. Rather than viewing it as another temporary street venue, the Spaniard explained that the track felt surprisingly fast, flowing and enjoyable to drive.
According to comments reported by Formula 1, Carlos Sainz indicated that he had been genuinely surprised by how entertaining the circuit was, noting its wide layout and the long, high-speed corners that allow drivers to carry significant speed. He also suggested that if the circuit already felt exciting in a road car, it should become an even more spectacular challenge once Formula 1 machinery takes to the track.
With Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc now having completed Ferrari’s filming programme at Madrid, attention returns to the championship battle. However, the Scuderia will arrive at the inaugural Formula 1 weekend at the MadRing carrying a level of circuit knowledge that few of its rivals can currently match, potentially giving Ferrari another useful advantage as it continues its fight at the front of the 2026 season.
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