The Spanish Grand Prix is moving to Madrid.[1] There’s so much about this event to excite fans. For those who care about sustainability, the track is only 16km from the city center, is being held in a convention center that uses 100% renewable energy, with all the race’s temporary structures to be built with recyclable materials.[2] If you want to go for a day trip, the track is only a five minute tram drive from Madrid’s airport.[3] Or if you plan a longer stay, you get to stay in Madrid, one of the most vibrant and fun cities in Europe. Having been to the Formula E race in London, I can also speak to the benefits of using a convention center to hold a race, it creates a far more welcoming, fun and relaxed experience than some traditional circuits can achieve, especially when trying to handle F1 crowds. On the topic of crowds, Madrid’s will be huge, with a capacity starting at 110,000, increasing to 140,000 at the end of the race’s contract.[4] Whilst there are usually complaints by fans when new street tracks are announced, I personally do not mind them. Whilst there needs to be a place for traditional racetracks on the F1 circuit, many of F1’s most interesting and varied tracks are street circuits.[5] There are countless positives to this event, one wonders what could possibly derail it.

Then one looks at the track layout.[6] Which looks abysmal.

According to the official F1 page, the track will feature ‘a mixture of slow, medium and fast corners… some long straights and big stops to promote overtaking.’[7] But looking at the layout, a better quote that comes to mind is ‘slow chicanes, slow chicanes and more slow chicanes.’ The start-finish straight is the only long straight in the track, albeit preceded by a couple of shorter straights. Whilst this straight does not appear long enough to promote overtaking on the straight itself, if a good corner proceeded it, then this could leave to overtakes. Unfortunately, the chicane at the end of the straight forces drivers to take two aggressive 90-degree turns, ruining the momentum achieved from the straight, making it incredibly difficult to pass. The next section of the track could have potential, if the cars could consistently follow through the Ribera Del Sena, to the Valdebebas Tunnel, to the 180-degree Valdebebas Curve, leading to a couple of corners that have some overtaking potential. Unfortunately, not one, but two small chicanes have been placed in this section. These two chicanes will most likely ruin the flow of this section, once again, making it more difficult to follow and overtake. Every overtaking opportunity looks like it will be immediately ruined by seemingly unnecessary chicanes, one of which appears to have been put in the track merely to accommodate a grandstand.

Yes, this event has potential. Yes, Madrid is a fantastic destination to hold an F1 race. And yes, if it’s affordable, I may even go for the experience. But the destination, experience and show should not come before the quality of the racing, which unfortunately, appears to be the case with this track.

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[1] Though, the possibility has been kept open for Barcelona to stay on the calendar.

[2] Stefano Domenicali on Madrid joining the F1 calendar from 2026 and how sustainability is at the heart of the new venture, Lawrence Barretto (23 January 2024) https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.stefano-domenicali-on-madrid-joining-the-f1-calendar-from-2026-and-how.2ikUYuraNv2lvQ9PimlHSA.html

[3] Madrid to join Formula 1 calendar from 2026 in new long-term deal (23 January 2024) https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.madrid-formula-1-calendar-2026-spanish-grand-prix.rKwSPJ74MczwzDhHVxdQz.html

[4] Stefano Domenicali on Madrid joining the F1 calendar from 2026 and how sustainability is at the heart of the new venture https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.stefano-domenicali-on-madrid-joining-the-f1-calendar-from-2026-and-how.2ikUYuraNv2lvQ9PimlHSA.html

[5] Think Monaco, Jeddah and Las Vegas to name a few examples.

[6] https://www.ifema.es/en/f1/circuit

[7] EXPLAINED: Your key questions answered as Madrid joins the F1 calendar from 2026, Lawrence Barretto (23 January 2024) https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.explained-your-key-questions-answered-as-madrid-joins-the-f1-calendar-from.2Vf9fUmHi3P7QQW9T6NSZj.html