Formula 1 made its way back to Madrid last weekend for the Spanish Grand Prix, held at the newly introduced street circuit dubbed the Madring.
Drivers have begun sharing their thoughts on this latest addition to the track lineup.
Nico Hülkenberg, a veteran in the sport known for his candid observations, described the Madring earlier in the week. He said, “It’s tough, very challenging. It’s incredibly fast—almost like Monaco, but at a quicker pace. There are some seriously high-speed sections with a lot of directional changes, leaving minimal room for error and zero run-off on exits.”
He mentioned the intensity of driving there, noting that his heart rate was elevated, and adrenaline was certainly flowing, although they managed to navigate the track successfully.
This description seemed to resonate with how events unfolded over the weekend.
Saturday’s qualifying was exhilarating, with drivers pushing to the limits, while Sunday’s race turned out to be rather uneventful. There was little overtaking, reminiscent of the Monaco Grand Prix, often regarded as the peak of F1 racing.
In the post-race analysis, podium finishers Kimi Antonelli and Lando Norris shared their views. Norris, who found himself leading until a Virtual Safety Car disrupted his chances for a win, finished in third place:
“Yes, I think there are changes that should definitely happen. They could eliminate corners 18 and 19—they’re pretty useless. Instead, it would be better to have a straight that leads into a hairpin. I mean, how anyone thought the current design was acceptable is beyond me. There’s potential here, and if modifications happen, I’d love to return next year. It could be a fun track to drive and an exciting racetrack overall.”
“Right now, it’s not a standout. It’s thrilling in qualifying, but from 17 to 20, a wider entry to the hairpin would produce better racing opportunities. Some simple changes would help make it more enjoyable for everyone.”
Antonelli echoed these sentiments:
“It definitely doesn’t allow for overtakes; it doesn’t encourage attempting a move. Most of the time, there’s a risk of contact. Like, if I turned into the second chicane, I might have collided with Lando and ended up in the wall, blocking the track. Some corners need adjustments to enhance overtaking opportunities. It’s fun for a lap, but during the race, you often find yourself stuck behind others.”
For those curious about the layout of the Madring, you can find it on the official F1 website.
Norris and Antonelli weren’t the only drivers sharing feedback. Alexander Albon labeled the race as “pretty boring,” while Audi’s Gabriel Bortoleto admitted he “almost dozed off” during the 57-lap race.
Carlos Sainz, who represented the Spanish Grand Prix, expressed on social media that while the track is “great,” there’s still “work to be done for better passing opportunities.”
After the event, Luis Garcia Abad, managing director of the Madring, indicated that they plan to improve the track layout for the next year.
“The FIA has clearly outlined how to enhance the track’s layout, and we’re open to making those changes for the upcoming year. I truly believe the drivers enjoyed qualifying, but we definitely aim to improve for next year.”
“We have the space and facilities for those improvements. I’m confident that Formula One Management, the FIA, and we will collaborate to make it better if it’s possible.”
If the organizers of the Madring are looking for inspiration, they might consider the Miami Grand Prix. After its first race in 2022, drivers provided feedback on ways the layout could be enhanced, and race promoters took that input seriously.
Ahead of the Miami Grand Prix in 2024, media representatives met with Tom Garfinkel, the managing partner of the Miami Grand Prix. He discussed the changes implemented from driver feedback.
“We haven’t received any complaints,” Garfinkel commented previously. “I’ve spoken with team principals and drivers, and the main issue in year one was the chicane at Turns 15 and 16, which was added for safety reasons.”
“We worked with Formula One and the FIA to smooth that corner out a bit. Initially, we made adjustments last year and kept it unchanged this year, since we heard it received positive feedback. One team principal mentioned it even has ‘personality.’”
He also pointed out that resurfacing done since the first year has left drivers feeling satisfied with the quality of the track.
While drivers faced challenges during the race in Madrid, there does seem to be a path forward for improvements at the Madring in the future.
