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Formula 1 drivers have united to demand sweeping changes to the Madring circuit after its debut Spanish Grand Prix delivered a processional race with almost no overtaking. Despite off‑track glamour—King Felipe VI, José Mourinho, and Rafael Nadal among the crowd—the on‑track product was widely panned as the most boring event of the season.
The new street circuit, carved through IFEMA’s exhibition halls and a highway corridor in Madrid, had been hyped as a blend of Baku and Jeddah. In reality, race day mirrored the forgotten layouts of Valencia and Sochi. Drivers spent much of the afternoon stuck in single‑file trains, and the handful of passes were all among backmarkers. Even the support races offered little action.
Winner Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) admitted the track is “nice over one lap” but said “80 percent of the time you might have contact” when trying to pass. He called for “some corners that need to be changed to create more overtaking opportunities.”
Lando Norris (McLaren) finished third after losing track position during a Virtual Safety Car. He bluntly suggested removing Turns 18 and 19 entirely: “They should get rid of that section, it’s useless. Just make a straight line from Turn 17 to Turn 20 with a wide hairpin entry like Austin’s Turn 1. You’ll create much better overtaking chances for everyone.”
George Russell (Mercedes) compared the circuit to Monaco, where qualifying decides everything. Oscar Piastri (McLaren) agreed: “The only track more difficult to overtake on is Monaco—not ideal.”
Ollie Bearman (Haas) criticised the layout’s fundamental design: “When you arrive and see the layout, it’s a bit like ‘what do you expect us to do?’ There was free rein from Turns 5 to 17, but that space wasn’t used to maximise passing. It doesn’t take a genius to make a track that lends itself to overtaking.”
Carlos Sainz (Williams), an ambassador for the circuit, urged organisers to stay open‑minded about changes.
The criticism is especially stinging because Madring was designed from scratch in the Valdebebas section (Turns 6–17) using 2026‑era simulation tools. FIA sources told Motorsport Today that a redesign committee will meet before the end of 2026, with potential modifications to Turns 5, 10, and the final sector to introduce longer straights and wider braking zones. An earlier curve at the pit exit is also under discussion.
Data from the race shows only 11 on‑track passes, compared to an average of 35 at other 2026 circuits. No driver inside the top 10 made a clean overtake without a pit stop or strategy advantage.
“If you compare to Baku or Singapore, there’s no space to change them,” Bearman noted. “But here the designers had a blank page and they chose this. It’s been a disappointment.”
With a five‑year contract for the Spanish Grand Prix at Madring, the FIA and circuit owners face pressure to act quickly. Sources suggest a revised layout could debut in 2027, incorporating lessons from Austin’s Turn 1 and Bahrain’s Turn 1–2 combo.
For now, drivers hope the circuit’s management listens. As of June 23, 2026, no official changes have been announced, but the consensus is clear: the magic of Madrid needs more straight‑line punch and less Monaco‑style congestion.
