Alex Albon believes the Madring’s near-flat-out corners could create an unusual hybrid deployment problem for Formula 1 teams during the Spanish Grand Prix weekend. The Williams driver has also raised concerns over the new Madrid circuit’s low-grip asphalt, the possibility of a single racing line developing and the limited scope for drivers to use alternative lines through La Monumental.
Several drivers have questioned different aspects of Formula 1’s newest circuit this weekend, but Alex Albon has offered one of the most detailed technical assessments. His concern centres on corners that could move from requiring a small throttle lift in practice to becoming completely flat-out as fuel loads fall and grip increases, potentially forcing teams to recalibrate how electrical energy is deployed at precisely the most important stage of the weekend.
Alex Albon warns Madring could disrupt hybrid deployment
During the pre-event media day, drivers discussed the numerous challenges presented by the new Madrid circuit. Alex Albon went further by analysing how much throttle drivers are likely to use through particular corners and how that could influence each team’s hybrid deployment strategy.
“There are a lot of corners on this track that will be between 90% and 100% throttle,” Alex Albon said. “I think the top teams will be flat out, while for the midfield teams and the teams at the back there will be a bigger lift, which has a big effect on deployment.”
“Without going too technical, whether you can take a corner flat or not massively changes the way the deployment works,” the Williams driver added.
The complication is that some corners may only become flat-out later in the weekend. As fuel loads drop, the circuit becomes more rubbered-in and drivers switch to fresh soft tyres in qualifying, cornering speeds will rise. By that stage, however, much of the team’s preparation and calibration work will already have been completed.
“You don’t want to go into qualifying and suddenly these corners start to become flat-out and your deployment starts to move around a lot,” Alex Albon explained. “That’s what we’ve found in the simulator so far.”
The problem could be especially relevant for Williams because the team may reach the flat-out threshold at a different stage from the leading cars. That creates an extra variable when engineers decide how to distribute electrical energy around the lap.
Williams hopes leading teams reveal the answer early
Alex Albon believes teams that reach the circuit’s performance limit earlier could provide an important reference for those further down the order. Ideally for Williams, the quickest cars will already be taking the relevant corners flat-out during free practice, giving the Grove team time to understand which calibrations will be required later.
“What I hope for us is that the top teams are already flat through them in FP1, FP2 and FP3, so that when we get to qualifying, we know what calibrations we need to make to improve the car,” Alex Albon said.
Finding that window will form part of a wider development challenge for Williams, which has been working to improve its competitiveness through an extensive 2026 programme. The team has already prepared a major technical overhaul for Baku as it tries to address weaknesses in its current package.
Alex Albon fears low grip could create a single racing line
Hybrid deployment is not Alex Albon’s only concern. He also highlighted the Madring’s low-grip surface, another factor that could make Formula 1’s first race weekend at the circuit particularly difficult.
Organisers treated the asphalt with high-pressure water jets before the event in an effort to remove dust and residue from the recently laid surface. According to Alex Albon, however, the combination of low initial grip and a narrow track could lead to large amounts of rubber accumulating along one preferred racing line.
“I’m worried about the marbles in the race,” he said. “From what I’ve heard, the grip is very low at this stage of the weekend. They resurfaced the track quite late, in May.”
As more laps are completed, Alex Albon fears rubber will build up predominantly on the ideal line, making it increasingly difficult for drivers to move away from it without suffering a major loss of grip.
“You then end up with a single line because all the rubber is only in one place,” he explained. “And if you move away from that line, there’s no grip.”
“Personally, I don’t think you can use that many different lines. The track is quite narrow. Drivers aren’t that willing to go all the way to the top of the banking and take the risk of running the high line. I hope I’m proven wrong, but I don’t think I am.”
The concerns echo broader warnings from drivers about the characteristics of Formula 1’s newest venue, including the possibility of incidents and red flags at the demanding Madrid circuit.
Alex Albon measured La Monumental banking with his phone
One of the Madring’s defining features is Turn 12, La Monumental, a banked section stretching for approximately 550 metres. Alex Albon revealed that he had even used his phone to investigate the camber across the corner.
“I measured it with my phone. I got the measuring tool out,” he said. “It looks like there’s slightly more camber closer to the inside line than there is at the top.”
That difference could influence how drivers approach the corner. Alex Albon expects the cars to naturally drift towards the higher part of the track after entering the banking, although doing so means covering a greater distance.
“You go into that corner and then make a small throttle release. And you just slide up towards the top of the track. But by doing that, you’re travelling a lot more metres than if you stayed low.”
Although La Monumental was designed to encourage drivers to explore different lines, Alex Albon is sceptical that the combination of grip, marbles and risk will make the upper route genuinely attractive during the race.
Albon also assesses safety at Formula 1’s new Madrid circuit
The Williams driver also addressed safety at the new circuit, a subject that has attracted increased attention following incidents in the support categories during the weekend.
Despite his concerns about the racing characteristics of the track, Alex Albon was more reassuring when discussing the circuit’s barriers.
“I’m always a little surprised that these circuits are safe,” he said. “I’ve had a look at the barriers. They all seem to be positioned in the right places.”
The greater uncertainty therefore appears to concern how the track will evolve competitively. As grip rises, corners become flat-out and rubber builds on the racing line, teams may need to react quickly to changing hybrid deployment requirements. For Alex Albon and Williams, understanding those changes before qualifying could prove one of the biggest challenges of Formula 1’s first weekend at the Madring.
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