The newly constructed Madring circuit is officially prepared for its Formula 1 debut after successfully completing a two-day testing phase with Formula 3 vehicles. Organizers confirmed the 5.4-kilometer (3.3-mile) hybrid track, which weaves through exhibition halls near Madrid’s primary airport, is ready to host the Spanish Grand Prix on September 13.
During the testing sessions held on Monday and Tuesday, 30 drivers across 10 teams navigated the circuit, which combines existing roadways with purpose-built sections. While the track functioned under real-world conditions, the sessions saw nearly 20 stoppages, including several red flags triggered by drivers going off-track.
Despite the challenges, the feedback from the drivers was largely positive. Théophile Naël of Van Amersfoort Racing noted that the layout’s characteristics, particularly its demanding sections, reminded him of the iconic street circuits in Monaco and Macau. He described the experience of driving the track at full throttle as an incredible display of g-forces.
Bruno del Pino, another driver who tested the course, highlighted the banked “La Monumental” corner as a standout feature. He characterized the circuit as the most adrenaline-fueled of the entire season, stating that every lap is intense and leaves drivers eager for the official race weekend.
Organizers emphasized that the trials were critical for evaluating the track’s performance alongside essential sporting, technical, medical, and safety operations. The event marks a significant return for Formula 1 to the Madrid region, which last hosted a Grand Prix at the Jarama circuit in 1981. Historically, the Spanish Grand Prix has also been held at the Jerez de la Frontera track in southern Spain between 1986 and 1997.
In a major development for the inaugural event, Spanish football giant Real Madrid has been named a local event organizer. The club’s training facility, Ciudad Real Madrid, sits just 200 meters from the circuit’s northern entrance. This proximity has fostered a unique partnership, granting the circuit access to specific club facilities throughout the race weekend.
Real Madrid will maintain a significant presence at the event, hosting club legends and prominent figures within exclusive hospitality spaces. Organizers described the collaboration as a union between one of the world’s most decorated football clubs and a premier international sporting event. The current agreement ensures that the Madring circuit will remain on the Formula 1 calendar through 2035. The report also notes that drivers said they liked what they experienced in the new circuit, according to organizers. The report also notes that the adrenaline is at 100% on every lap,” he said, adding that the circuit “fills you with energy and gets your heart racing. The report also notes that so I really like this circuit because some sections remind me of them,” said Théophile Naël, who drives for team Van Amersfoort Racing, i feel very comfortable in Macau and Monaco. The report also notes that you can feel the g-forces, when you are flat out. The report also notes that madring signed a contract with F1 through 2035.
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