It’s Race Week! Formula 1 continues its 2026 season this weekend with a new event on the calendar. The Spanish Grand Prix marks the debut of Madring, a new street circuit in Madrid, which hosts a race from the world’s premier motorsport category for the first time.
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The Spanish round takes place right after the Italian GP, held in Monza, and opens a new chapter in the season. After facing one of the most traditional and fastest circuits in Formula 1 history, drivers and teams move to a completely new setting, where the lack of previous references will be one of the main challenges.
Madring debuts on the calendar as the new home of the Spanish GP. The semi-permanent circuit was developed in the IFEMA Madrid area and combines urban sections with sectors built specifically for the competition. As a result, teams and drivers will need to discover the track’s characteristics during free practice and quickly adapt the cars to the demands of the layout.
The novelty also increases the importance of Friday’s activities. Unlike circuits known for decades, there is no history of Formula 1 races at Madring to guide decisions about setup, tire behavior, track evolution, and strategy. The data obtained in the first laps will play a fundamental role in preparation for qualifying and the race.
Another important factor will be the evolution of the asphalt throughout the weekend. On a new circuit, especially with urban parts, the tendency is for grip levels to change significantly as cars accumulate laps and deposit rubber on the track.
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The debut of Madring also comes at an important moment in the 2026 season. After the summer break and the rounds in the Netherlands and Italy, the championship increasingly enters its decisive phase, raising the stakes of any mistake or opportunity in the fight for the Drivers’ and Constructors’ titles.
Gabriel Bortoleto will also face a completely new circuit in his second year in Formula 1. Like the other drivers on the grid, the Brazilian from Audi will need to build his references from the first minutes of FP1, making adaptability one of the key points of the weekend.
The Spanish GP will be held in the conventional format, with two free practice sessions on Friday, FP3 and qualifying on Saturday, and the race on Sunday.
F1Mania.net follows the entire Race Week of the Spanish GP, with news, behind-the-scenes, analysis, and full coverage of all Formula 1 activities in the historic debut of Madring.
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