Madrid’s new Formula 1 venue is starting to become a reality, with Carlos Sainz completing the first-ever laps around the circuit provisionally known as Madring. The brand-new venue is set to host the Spanish Grand Prix in September, taking over from the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, which will move to a different slot on the calendar under a new race identity.
For this landmark first outing on the asphalt of the Spanish capital, the current Williams driver took on the role of official ambassador for the event. Rather than driving a Formula 1 car, Carlos Sainz sampled the layout in a 450-horsepower Ford Mustang GT, helping engineers assess the freshly laid track surface while organisers continue racing against time to complete the venue ahead of FIA deadlines.
Madrid’s new F1 circuit layout: La Monumental and the energy management challenge
The 5.4-kilometre circuit features 22 corners and stands out for its hybrid nature. Part of the layout runs through urban-style sections around the IFEMA exhibition complex and nearby Barajas Airport, while the second half transitions into a permanent high-speed section designed to showcase the aerodynamic strengths of modern Formula 1 machinery.
After reviewing the circuit’s characteristics, Carlos Sainz already identified several areas that could prove decisive during future Grands Prix. The approach into the turn 1 and turn 2 chicane appears to be a clear overtaking opportunity, sending drivers onto a long straight before another braking zone at turns 5 and 6. This sequence is likely to demand highly strategic battery deployment and energy recovery management.
The standout feature of the track, however, is turn 12, named La Monumental — a dramatic banked corner with an extraordinary 24% gradient. Based on simulation data, modern Formula 1 cars are expected to be capable of taking it flat out, potentially making it one of the most spectacular corners on the calendar.
Carlos Sainz’s first impressions of the Madrid track
The Madrid-born driver described the circuit as much faster and smoother than initial layouts or simulator previews had suggested. Carlos Sainz explained that the sweeping corners in the permanent section allow drivers to lean heavily on the car for several seconds at a time, creating an exhilarating experience behind the wheel.
Even in a road-going Ford Mustang GT, the Williams driver admitted he was surprised by how enjoyable the lap felt, convinced that the speed and intensity will increase dramatically once Formula 1 cars hit the circuit.
Speaking in an official Formula 1 video, the Spaniard shared his excitement about the new venue:
“I really enjoyed it. It simply reminded me how special it is to drive a car on a brand-new circuit,” said the event ambassador.
“Honestly, it’s impressive, because I didn’t expect to enjoy it this much. I didn’t imagine it would be this flowing and wide, a track where you can really lean on the car for so long, especially in the open section,” Carlos Sainz said. “And I realised just how fast we were going. If we were quick in this, imagine what it will be like in a Formula 1 car.”
When asked which part of the circuit stood out the most, Carlos Sainz highlighted the elevation change between turn 7 and the heavy braking zone into turn 8, where visibility becomes extremely limited: “You go from a very tight section, much more like a street circuit, into a sudden blind corner where you can’t see anything at all. Then suddenly the track opens up, and it feels like stepping through a screen into a completely different world. I love the fact that the circuit has two completely separate personalities, allowing you to move from an urban-style section to one that is completely open and wide.”
The future of the Spanish Grand Prix and Barcelona’s role
Approval from the hometown driver comes at a crucial stage for the Madrid project, with construction work continuing at full speed to meet international deadlines. The circuit must still pass its official FIA inspection later this month, a mandatory step before organisers receive final approval to move forward with full race preparations.
Madrid’s organisers have secured the rights to host the Spanish Grand Prix for a ten-year period, keeping the race in the capital from 2026 through to 2035. However, this does not mark the permanent end of the historic Circuit de Catalunya. Barcelona officials have agreed a commercial arrangement that will allow the venue to remain part of the Formula 1 calendar on a rotating basis.
The renamed Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix is scheduled for June in the 2028, 2030 and 2032 seasons, ensuring Spain will continue to enjoy two major Formula 1 destinations over the coming years.
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