Formula One Preview: Spanish Grand Prix
Formula One heads to its 78th new venue this weekend, as the Madring becomes the first new addition to the calendar since 2023.
Circuit Guide
The Madring will become the eighth circuit in Spain to host a Formula One Grand Prix. Only the United States has hosted a race at more different venues (12).
The 5.4km circuit is situated just one subway stop from Madrid’s Barajas airport, well out of the way of the city centre. Sectors 1 and 3 snake around IFEMA, an exhibition and convention centre, on a series of roads and passages through industrial warehouses.
It is not the most scenic of settings, but the track comes alive in Sector 2 with a section of purpose-built race track, which until late 2024 was a completely barren plot of land. The highlight of this complex is “La Monumental”, a sweeping 270-degree banked corner which at 550 metres is the longest turn on the F1 calendar.
On a fun side note, this section of the circuit is literally across the road from Real Madrid’s training ground, so expect the likes of José Mourinho and Kylian Mbappé to appear in the paddock.
When I visited the site in September 2024, the only evidence that there would be a Formula One race less than two years in the future was a ceremonial start and finish line. The transformation since then has been remarkable.
Weekend Format
No venue has ever hosted a sprint race on debut and that trend continues in Madrid. The weekend will follow the traditional format of three practice sessions – which the drivers will surely need – ahead of qualifying and Sunday’s race.
Weather Forecast
Similar to last weekend in northern Italy, the forecast for Madrid is bright sunshine and a maximum temperature of 33 degrees Celsius on Friday and Saturday, with a high of 32 forecast for Sunday.
It is therefore likely that the FIA will declare the race a heat hazard, as was the case at Monza. That means that drivers can choose to wear a cooling system under their race suits, with any driver choosing not to use the apparatus required to run a 5kg ballast on their car.
Major Talking Points
Russell and Hamilton close to conceding the title: Kimi Antonelli’s Monza victory was as stunning as it was crucial, and it appears to be the result that finally broke his closest challengers.
Teammate George Russell, who now sits 66 points behind the Italian, admitted: I'm just sort of accepting that is what it is. I'm just going to enjoy it from here on in and try and win as many races as possible."
Third-placed Lewis Hamillton, who is a further 10 points adrift, said it is “far too late” for Ferrari to start prioritising him over teammate Charles Leclerc in races.
In the same interview, the seven-time world champion did try to rally himself though, admitting that he has a chance as long as it is mathematically possible.
Ferrari team tension: For two races now, there have been signs of growing tensions within Ferrari, specifically between Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc.
At Zandvoort, Leclerc refused to move out of the way of the Brit, who was the faster car on a different strategy. Hamilton felt the delay cost him a podium, while Leclerc was aggrieved at what he felt was an overly aggressive defensive move by Hamilton on the final lap.
At Monza, neither driver was happy with the other’s approach to the opening chicane, which ended with Hamilton dipping a wheel in the gravel and losing several places. The Monégasque driver said after the race that the pair “went too far”, while Hamilton denied any responsibility.
It seemed inevitable that two drivers with a justifiable claim to being the de facto number one driver would eventually come to blows, but with both championships out of reach perhaps now is the time for Fred Vasseur to start implementing some rules of combat.
Hadjar absent once more: For a third race running, Isack Hadjar has been declared unfit to drive for Red Bull after he sustained a wrist injury during the summer break.
Ironically, his absence has not stopped the Frenchman scoring points after he was reinstated to the Monaco podium following compatriot Pierre Gasly’s demotion.
Liam Lawson will take his seat once more at Red Bull, while Yuki Tsunoda will cameo once more at Racing Bulls.
Tsunoda subject of Audi appeal: He may have crossed the line in tenth place at Monza in just his second race of the year, but the Japanese driver may yet find himself bumped down the order.
Tsunoda lost his bearings while lining up on the grid for the restart following Charles Leclerc’s crash, and triggered an extra formation lap as a result of being out of position.
Despite an investigation, he avoided a penalty, much to the disdain of Audi, whose Gabriel Bortoleto finished 11th and would have taken a point had Tsunoda been charged.
An appeal is far from a foregone conclusion, though, and Audi will need to be able to provide fresh evidence of the incident for their case to be heard.
FIA rejects Briatore claim: Alpine boss Flavio Briatore caused quite a stir at Monza when he questioned the impartiality of the panel that accepted Red Bull and McLaren’s appeals against Gasly’s Monaco podium.
The Italian alleged that one of the judges at the FIA court of appeal had links to McLaren, based on the individual’s attendance at a 2018 charity auction in San Francisco at which two McLarens were sold.
McLaren Team Principal Andrea Stella was also in the press conference, and both he and his team responded angrily to Briatore’s remarks.
The FIA have rejected the allegation.
Past Spanish Grands Prix
The Madring follows in the footsteps of some esteemed former hosts of the Spanish Grand Prix, becoming the sixth circuit to host the event since 1950.
The Pedralbes street circuit in Barcelona was the first to do so, with Januel Manuel Fangio and Mike Hawthorn winning the two races there in 1951 and 1954.
After a 12-year absence of F1 in Spain, Madrid’s Jarama and Catalonia’s Montjuïc shared hosting duties throughout the 1960s and 70s. Another short hiatus followed in the early 80s, before Jerez joined the calendar in 1986.
When Jerez assumed hosting duties of the European Grand Prix, Spain finally found a long-term home for its Grand Prix in the form of Catalunya, which joined the calendar in 1991 and has hosted a race every year since.
Four of the current grid – Hamilton, Fernando Alonso, Nico Hülkenberg and Sergio Pérez - were also around for the days of the European Grand Prix in Valencia, which concluded in 2012.
F1 now returns to Madrid for the first time since the Jarama days, with Gilles Villeneuve the last winner in the city in 1981.
Michael Schumacher and Lewis Hamilton are the kings of the Spanish Grand Prix, with six victories apiece. The Brit also won the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix earlier this year for his seventh triumph in Spain.
Verstappen has seen the chequered flag first four times in Barcelona, including three victories in a row between 2022 and 2024.
The only two drivers other than Hamilton and Verstappen to win in Spain since 2014 are Nico Rosberg (2015) and Oscar Piastri (2025). This relative duopoly is stark in contrast to the 13 years before 2014, during which the Spanish Grand Prix saw 11 different winners.
Piastri won the Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona last year, although the race is best remembered for Verstappen’s red mist moment when he drove into the side of George Russell on Lap 64. The Dutchman received a ten-second penalty for the incident, which cost him nine points; he eventually lost the championship to Lando Norris by just two.
Drivers to watch
Fernando Alonso: The Spanish legend has not had much to celebrate in recent races, or even recent years, but he has enjoyed success in front of his home crowd before.
The two-time champion’s 32rd and most recent victory came in Barcelona in 2013, while he also triumphed the last time F1 raced on a street circuit in Spain – the 2012 European Grand Prix in Valencia.
Furthermore, he and Aston Martin have made strides in recent races, including a ninth place at Zandvoort, but continue to be hampered by Honda’s disappointing power unit.
George Russell: If neutral F1 fans are to have any hope of witnessing a title fight this year, this is perhaps George Russell’s final opportunity to launch a championship comeback.
Kimi Antonelli currently leads his teammate by 66 points – if he leaves Madrid with a 65-point advantage or more, Russell’s championship hopes are out of his hands.
With just nine Grands Prix and one sprint left after this weekend, if the Italian finished second behind Russell in every remaining race he would only lose 64 points.
Therefore, as much as Russell effectively conceded the championship to Antonelli last weekend, it does remain a possibility as long as he finishes ahead of his teammate this weekend.
It is worth remembering, though, that he has only beaten Antonelli on merit twice all season – in Australia and Austria.
Carlos Sainz: As a native of Madrid, the Williams driver is an ambassador for the Madring and drove his first laps of the circuit in May, before it was even fully finished.
He and Williams are in a rough spot currently with no points in the last seven races, but the Spaniard knows this track better than anyone.
If Williams are to bounce back anywhere, this may be the place.
Session Times (BST)
Practice 1: Friday 12:30 - 13:30
Practice 2: Friday 15:00 - 16:00
Practice 3: Saturday 11:30 - 12:30
Qualifying: Saturday 15:00 - 16:00
Race: Sunday 14:00
Edited by Marit Everett
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