Ferrari could arrive at the 2026 Spanish Grand Prix with a small but potentially useful advantage over its Formula 1 rivals after becoming the first team to drive on the new Madring circuit in Madrid. On 9 July, Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc completed a filming day with the SF-26, giving the Scuderia an early opportunity to gather information from a track that every team must now learn during its first official F1 weekend.
The new Madrid circuit measures 5.4 kilometres and includes a banked corner among its distinctive features. While the limited nature of a filming day means Ferrari could not conduct a conventional test, the experience still allowed the team to familiarise itself with the venue, its infrastructure and the characteristics of a completely new circuit before its rivals began official running.
Ferrari was first to drive at Madring
Contrary to some previous reports, it was Ferrari that requested the filming day rather than the Madrid organisers inviting the Maranello team. The Scuderia was nevertheless able to use the occasion for several purposes, including testing personnel making their debut in certain roles, evaluating the circuit’s new equipment and building familiarity with the venue.
That early experience could become valuable as Formula 1 prepares to race at Madring for the first time. The venue itself is now ready for its championship debut, with the final construction work on both the circuit and its infrastructure having continued at an intense pace right up to the opening of the official race-weekend sessions. A closer look at the completed venue can be found in our Madring F1 circuit photo gallery.
Madring aims to make access easier for Formula 1 fans
The Madrid circuit is also positioned with accessibility in mind. Madring is around five minutes from the airport and is close to a railway station as well as several bus routes.
That should make the venue convenient not only for Formula 1 personnel but also for spectators. It is estimated that at least 80% of fans will use public transport to reach the circuit across the three days of the race weekend. The concept represents a new direction for Formula 1 and could potentially influence the approach taken by other events in the future.
Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc completed 200 km at Madring
For the July filming day, Ferrari chose to run both of its race drivers. Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc shared the SF-26 at Madring, alternating behind the wheel for a total of 200 kilometres, with each driver completing 100 kilometres in front of the cameras.
The session gave Ferrari an opportunity to collect data from a circuit that was still months away from making its Formula 1 championship debut. Despite using demonstration tyres and having only limited scope to push the car, the Scuderia may also have been able to explore different tyre configurations, set-ups and push runs during its allotted mileage.
Why Ferrari could have a small Madrid advantage
The filming day therefore has the potential to help Ferrari as preparations intensify for the Spanish Grand Prix. Even with the restrictions attached to the session, the team has already experienced the circuit with the SF-26 and accumulated information that can be used when preparing the car for the weekend.
Conditions will add another element to that preparation, with hot and dry weather forecast for the Madrid Grand Prix weekend.
Only the final result will show whether Ferrari’s July experience ultimately proves useful in competitive terms. However, when it comes purely to data collection and preparing the car for a completely new venue, Frédéric Vasseur’s team begins the Madrid weekend with a slight head start over its rivals. The challenge now is to turn that small advantage into performance when official running begins.
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