Madrid circuit beginning to take shape: all the details ahead of inaugural F1 Grand Prix in 2026. Construction works for the Madrid F1 circuit will begin in June.

Construction works for the Madrid Formula 1 circuit, which will rise in the IFEMA-Valdebebas area, will begin in June.

After the great excitement following the announcement on February 23rd about Madrid’s return to the Formula 1 calendar starting from the 2026 championship, attention now turns to the actual construction of the circuit. As reported by Spain’s national daily sport newspaper MARCA, by the end of May, barring complications, the final FIA homologation of the circuit will take place.

There are few doubts left to resolve regarding the final layout, with some discussions still ongoing regarding the entry and exit of the two tunnels located at turns 6 and 15.

Regarding the technical specifications of the track, there will be four DRS zones, located respectively at the end of the start/finish straight, between turns 4 and 5, the third after the banking turn, and the fourth just before the curves leading back to the main straight.

The elevated section will be the distinctive feature of the Madrid circuit, with its 30-degree banking (still to be officially confirmed based on safety regulations), surpassing both Zandvoort’s turn 3 and Daytona’s.

Furthermore, the turn will have a length of 500 meters and a 25-meter elevation from the inner to the outer edge, with drivers experiencing forces of up to 6G laterally and 3G vertically, all for an expected race distance of 55 laps.

Regarding the paddock, the hospitality area will be permanent, avoiding the movement of motorhomes from one race to another, also keeping an eye on environmental sustainability.

The Madrid Grand Prix will be the first Formula 1 race with zero impact, with the proximity of Barajas airport allowing teams to transport all necessary materials by air. Additionally, a photovoltaic plant built within the IFEMA congress center will ensure the necessary electricity in a completely green manner.

Finally, the race time for the Grand Prix is yet to be defined, with reports suggesting that the race could start in the late daylight hours and conclude under the floodlights, similar to Abu Dhabi.