Formula 1 competes this weekend in the Spanish GP, the 14th round of the 2026 season with a special touch: the debut of the Madring Circuit, in Madrid.
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The layout is high-speed and was tested for the first time last month when Formula 3 held two days of activities – which featured no less than 11 red flags due to crashes into the barriers.
Several drivers highlighted the challenge they will face this weekend to avoid collisions, while James Vowles, Williams’ chief, described the track as a ‘car killer’.
So, with F1 already around the corner, what could be the sectors that will cause problems during the round?
So far, the point at Madring that has caused the most accidents was the chicane at turns 5 and 6. After running for 800m, where F1 cars can reach up to 340 km/h, they need to brake hard to slow down to 80 km/h.
The combination of braking, tight chicane, and minimal runoff area makes it an ideal spot for mistakes. During the F3 test, a large number of incidents happened right there.
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Right after comes turn 7, the highest point of the circuit at about 697 meters. It is a blind corner that has a wall alarmingly close at the exit. With little margin for error and drivers not seeing the apex while braking, it is also expected that drivers will hit the protective wall.
Then, at turn 17, there is a 90º turn that leads to a tunnel under the M-11 road. Concrete walls close to the track both before and after the corner, with limited visibility, make the section treacherous.
Already the iconic turn 12, called La Monumental, with a length of 550m and a 24% incline, is Madring’s signature. During the F3 activities, virtually nothing happened at that point.
However, it remains a dangerous spot: cars pass at about 300 km/h and are subjected to enormous lateral force for 5 seconds. The question, therefore, is not if an accident can happen, but the consequences if it does.
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