Red Bull has transformed Sebastian Vettel’s championship-winning RB8 into a Formula 1 “train” capable of running on the Madrid Metro network, staging one of its most unusual promotional stunts ahead of this weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix. The spectacular project celebrates Formula 1’s return to Madrid and the debut of the brand-new Madring circuit.
This weekend, Formula 1 will race at Madring for the first time, with the new circuit running through part of the Spanish capital. To mark the occasion, Red Bull decided to reinterpret one of the most iconic cars in its history: the RB8 that carried Sebastian Vettel to the 2012 Formula 1 World Championship.
Red Bull turns Vettel’s RB8 into a Madrid Metro ‘train’
Sunday’s race will be the first Formula 1 Grand Prix held in Madrid since 1981. Ahead of the eagerly anticipated return, Red Bull modified its 2012 title-winning car so that it could travel on the city’s Metro railway tracks, celebrating F1’s return to the Spanish capital in typically unconventional Red Bull style.
The RB8 remains one of the defining cars from Red Bull’s first dominant era in Formula 1. More than a decade later, however, its latest challenge had nothing to do with lap times or championship points.
The “one-of-a-kind” engineering project required specially manufactured metal wheels weighing 29.8kg each. The modifications allowed the Formula 1 car to operate on railway tracks while preserving the historic machinery underneath.
Patrick Friesacher drives Red Bull RB8 through Madrid Metro
Former Formula 1 driver Patrick Friesacher was chosen to take the adapted RB8 onto the Metro network. He kept the car on the rails as it travelled past Estadio Metropolitano, home of Atlético Madrid, and through the Sacedal and Chamartín depots.
For Friesacher, who has taken part in numerous unusual events with Red Bull’s Heritage programme, even this represented something completely different.
“It was an incredible experience. I’ve been lucky enough to have many experiences with our Heritage team, but driving a Formula 1 car on railway tracks was surreal,” Patrick Friesacher said.
He then added: “It’s really fantastic to be able to add ‘Metro driver’ to your CV.”
Red Bull prepares for Formula 1’s first Madring weekend
The stunt comes as Red Bull prepares for a very different challenge on track. Max Verstappen heads to Madrid after claiming a podium at Monza, with the new Madring presenting another opportunity to assess the strengths and weaknesses of the RB22.
The four-time world champion has faced a demanding 2026 campaign, with Red Bull’s RB22 exposing several weaknesses across the opening part of the season. A completely new circuit will now provide another unknown for both the drivers and their engineers.
Madrid’s arrival is one of the major additions to the 2026 Formula 1 calendar, bringing Grand Prix racing back to the Spanish capital after a 45-year absence.
Before Red Bull’s current car even takes to Madring, however, the team has already made its mark on Madrid. Sebastian Vettel’s title-winning RB8 may have been designed to conquer Formula 1 circuits, but for one extraordinary outing it became perhaps the fastest-looking Metro train the Spanish capital has ever seen.
We’ve raced against planes and taken our doughnut displays sky-high… 🛫
But you’ve never seen us on rails before! 🚇
🔗 https://t.co/25gofpxTsH#F1 || #SpanishGP 🇪🇸 pic.twitter.com/yUDuZg8dvh
— Oracle Red Bull Racing (@redbullracing) September 8, 2026
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