Max Verstappen has called for changes to Madrid’s new Madring circuit after criticising the lack of genuine overtaking opportunities around Formula 1’s newest venue. Although the four-time world champion praised the Spanish Grand Prix organisation and the quality of the asphalt, he believes some corners have been designed in a way that makes attacking another car unnecessarily difficult.
The first Formula 1 weekend at the Madring has generally impressed from an organisational perspective, but the circuit itself has received a more mixed response from the drivers. Its technical and demanding layout provides a significant challenge, yet concerns have quickly emerged over whether Sunday’s 57-lap Spanish Grand Prix will offer enough opportunities for cars to race side by side.
Max Verstappen criticises Madring overtaking layout
Social media has already featured plenty of debate among Formula 1 fans questioning how a circuit can be so technical and unforgiving while apparently lacking an obvious overtaking zone. Drivers themselves appear increasingly resigned to the possibility of a processional race, with strategy potentially becoming more important than on-track moves.
Max Verstappen addressed the issue during the top-three press conference following Saturday’s closely fought qualifying session. The Red Bull driver will start third after a session in which he also felt a Red Bull software limitation cost him an opportunity to fight more strongly for Madrid pole.
Asked what he liked most about the Madrid street circuit, Max Verstappen initially pointed to the grip provided by the new asphalt before turning his attention to the layout itself.
“I like the grip. They’ve done a good job with the asphalt, although in some places there are already too many bumps considering it’s a new track,” Max Verstappen said.
“The corners don’t allow overtaking, so they should learn that in areas where you’re braking, you should never have to steer, because that doesn’t allow you to make any attacking move. So, for sure, in terms of track design, I think it can be improved.”
Max Verstappen also believes Formula 1 drivers should be consulted more extensively when new circuits are being created.
“I also think that in the future, input from the drivers could help a lot, even though quite often they tell you that there isn’t enough space, but that’s just nonsense. There’s always a way to find an overtaking opportunity on a circuit.”
La Monumental does not fully convince Max Verstappen
Even La Monumental, the Madring’s signature banked corner, has not completely won Max Verstappen over. His criticism is not directed primarily at the corner itself, but rather at how limited the challenge becomes in a modern Formula 1 car with enormous levels of downforce.
The Dutchman was also unable to experience the corner exactly as he wanted during qualifying because of the way his electrical energy deployment developed over the lap.
“My experience of Monumental in qualifying? Well, I would have liked to take it flat out, but my battery ran out, so I had to lift a little to recharge,” Max Verstappen explained.
“The banking is nice, but I think they should have done it the other way around, with a little more banking in the first part and then flattening it towards the exit.”
“And then, in an F1 car you have so much downforce, so I think it’s more challenging in the other categories, where it didn’t seem quite as easy to take it flat. But I imagine it looks fantastic from the external camera shots.”
The unusual Madrid layout had already generated concern among drivers before the first Formula 1 cars took to the track, with several competitors warning about the potential for incidents and interruptions around the new venue. Similar concerns over the demanding nature of the new Madrid circuit centred on its blind sections, elevation changes and limited margin for mistakes.
Verstappen praises Spanish GP organisation despite track criticism
Max Verstappen was keen to distinguish his criticism of the circuit design from his view of the event itself. From an organisational perspective, the reigning venue has made a strong first impression on the Red Bull driver.
“Overall, the event itself is really fantastic,” Max Verstappen added. “The organisers have done a very good job, also in terms of how quickly, I think, they prepared the circuit and shared the information for the simulator.”
“So from that point of view, I think it’s gone very well. But if you want to have better races and more spectacular overtaking, I think there are some corners that could be modified.”
The debate is particularly relevant because qualifying suggested the leading teams are closely matched. Lando Norris secured the first Madring pole position after a dramatic final Q3 lap put him ahead of Kimi Antonelli and Max Verstappen, making track position potentially even more important if passing proves as difficult as expected.
Lando Norris also sees room to improve the Madring
Max Verstappen is not alone in believing the Madrid circuit could benefit from changes. Pole-sitter Lando Norris also sees considerable potential in the venue while acknowledging that some aspects need refinement.
“The track definitely has great potential, but some things need to be improved,” Lando Norris said. “For example, even the pit lane, which is six kilometres long…”
Lando Norris will start Sunday’s race from pole after producing what he described as one of the finest qualifying laps of his career. His remarkable final qualifying effort placed him only 0.011 seconds ahead of Kimi Antonelli, underlining how closely matched the front of the grid is heading into the race.
That close competition could produce a fascinating strategic contest, but Max Verstappen’s concern is that the layout itself may prevent the drivers from turning those small performance differences into genuine wheel-to-wheel action. The first Spanish Grand Prix at the Madring has already earned praise as an event; the next question is whether the circuit can deliver the quality of racing expected from Formula 1’s newest venue.
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