Ferrari took the first steps on the new Madrid circuit, future venue of Formula 1, and left satisfied with the experience. Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc participated in a filming day on the new layout and approved the track’s characteristics, which will host the Spanish GP between September 11 and 13.
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The private test took place on July 9, while the circuit is still undergoing final adjustments before its debut on the category’s calendar. According to Madring’s general manager, Luis Garcia Abad, the activity also served to gather important information about the new layout.
Garcia Abad revealed that the intense heat was one of the main challenges of the day: “They were running on asphalt with over 37 degrees. It was very hot,” he said. Still according to the manager, Hamilton commented on the strong compression in certain sections of the track, receiving a humorous response: “I said the best solution to avoid compression was to go a little slower, that it wouldn’t be a problem,” he stated.
Despite the adverse conditions, the overall assessment was positive. Abad said that Leclerc highlighted the track’s potential for the qualifying session: “Leclerc commented that the qualifying session will be tremendous, because you pass very close to the walls.”
The person responsible for the circuit emphasized that the track design follows the criteria established by the FIA and was developed in conjunction with Formula 1 itself: “They liked it, but not because they had to like it. The circuit project was approved by the FIA, and from the beginning it was Formula 1 itself that defined each of the 22 corners,” he said.
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One of the most anticipated points is turn 8, named ‘La Monumental’. With 550 meters in length and a 24% incline, it will be the longest corner on the 2026 calendar. Garcia Abad described the sector as a real challenge: “From turn 4 to 19 it’s a roller coaster, with ups and downs. Turns 7 and 8 are completely blind. You enter the Monumental and can’t fully accelerate because you lose the exit reference,” he commented.
The manager believes the section will require a competitive combination between driver and car to make a difference: “To win, you need a driver and a car. We’ll see what happens on September 13,” he added.
Besides preparing the circuit for its debut, the organization intends to avoid problems faced by other recent Formula 1 events, such as the Las Vegas GP in 2023. Therefore, additional tests on the track were requested: “It’s not mandatory, but we asked to carry them out. We need to do everything the right way, learn from any mistakes, and ensure the second year is even better than the first,” concluded Garcia Abad.
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