Madring heats up for F1: construction to finish by May, first race in August

Rumors of delays at the new Madring circuit now seem like a thing of the past. Spain is securing a rotating double appointment on the F1 calendar, with Barcelona alternating with the prestigious Spa-Francorchamps. Meanwhile, the Madring is revving up to host the 2026 Spanish Grand Prix on the weekend of September 13. The track, located in the Valdebebas district around the IFEMA exhibition center and the Real Madrid sports complex, is not only set to finish construction on schedule but already has its first event lined up.

The features of the Madring

The 5,747-meter circuit is designed following the latest trends favored by the F1 paddock, which increasingly prefer street-style circuits over permanent tracks typically located far from city centers. The goal is to create fast layouts with drivers weaving between barriers. This approach has been successfully applied in Baku, Jeddah, Miami, and Las Vegas, and Madrid will follow the same philosophy, with a unique twist: part of the layout will be permanent and will not be dismantled annually. One standout feature is the “Monumental Curve,” an elevated section that is already becoming one of the circuit’s defining elements.

Next steps

Regarding construction, Spanish media report that the permanent part of the circuit will be completed by the end of May. A first event is planned for the summer: on the weekend of August 16, cars will take to the track for the first time to check compliance with organizational and safety requirements. The baptism of the circuit will be entrusted to the GR Cup Spain, a one-make championship featuring Toyota GR86 cars. This event will be closely observed by representatives from the FIA to evaluate the track ahead of its official homologation for Formula 1.

There is little doubt about the circuit’s readiness: for the Spanish Grand Prix weekend, Formula 1 has already sold around 80,000 tickets, signaling strong anticipation from fans for the new Madring experience.