Hello, good afternoon to all lovers of the motor world in general, and to all followers of Formula 1 in particular. Today is a special day. December 13 has arrived, the date on which the “Great Circus” returns to the Community of Madrid and arrives for the first time in its history to the city of Madrid. Welcome to Madring.
This impressive semi-urban layout project, with serious economic losses for the capital, and still pending support, especially in the conditions for fans, is now a reality. Between Valdebebas and IFEMA, the 2026 grid will undertake 57 laps of a 5.4 kilometer circuit.
The asphalt is dry and in perfect condition.
A scenario that has a 15 meter wide road, but where overtaking will seem more than complicated. And this is not only because the fencing is constant next to the pianos, especially in the first sector; but because its layout is, for the most part, twisty (22 curves, which are many).
It's sunny.
Two points to keep in mind. As always, the finish line, which will link through 2 and 3 with the second straight without losing speed. And, of course, the “Monumental” in clear homage to the Plaza de Toros de las Ventas in its name, and to the famous NASCAR curve in its shape (550 meters long and 24% slope).
The forecasts do not foresee rain during the test.
The “Monumental”, which will host 45,000 spectators out of a total of 110,000, will serve as a launch pad for the straight line before 13 and which, in theory, will be another overtaking point. The last sector is a concatenation of fast 90 and 120 degree curves that will lead to the finish line.
To reach the “Monumental” you must overcome the “Bunker”, in memory of a bunker from the civil war, and in which the cars must disguise themselves as utility vehicles to cross an urban area with a roundabout, tunnels, a 90-degree curve and an 8% slope as a ramp.
Madring will be the seventh Spanish circuit in which a Formula 1 race will be held. Only the United States (12) has had more different layouts than Spain in the history of this sport (France also has seven): Pedralbes, Jarama, Montjuic Park, Jerez de la Frontera, Barcelona, Valencia and Madrid.
Madring will be the second track in Madrid where Formula 1 is held, after the Jarama permanent circuit, where it was held in nine editions, the last of them in 1981. It will be the 79th circuit in Formula 1, the first to open since the Las Vegas circuit did so in 2023.
And, for this reason, Lando Norris has already gone down in history by being the first poleman in history on this track, after giving the surprise in front of the Ferraris (Lewis Hamilton 4th and Charles Leclerc 5th), a Max Verstappen (3rd) who always grows in big events, and a Kimi Antonelli (2nd) whom he left with honey on his lips for only 11 thousandths!!!
Those who were far from being competitive were our Spanish pilots. Fernando Alonso (17th on the grid) has enough to be 18th ahead of his teammate, the Cadillacs and Oliver Bearman. For his part, Carlos Sainz, who also did not make it through Q1, beaten by his teammate Albon (16th), will start 20th by hindering Valtteri Bottas (19th) on his flying lap.
And, in the middle, the dispute for the drivers' world championship that Kimi Antonelli left him on track last weekend in Monza with his brilliant victory in the middle of the Italian tifosi party, thanks to his spectacular comeback of 18 positions to victory.
Kimi Antonelli alone has achieved one more victory (seven) and one more fastest lap (seven) than the group of drivers in each of the aspects (six in total per section) in 2026, becoming the Italian with the most wins in a single season in the history of Formula 1.
So the Italian from Mercedes leads with 267 points, 66 more than his teammate George Russell (201), 76 over Lewis Hamilton (191) and 96 more than Lando Norris (171). So the German team (468 points) has a clear lead over Ferrari (346), which crashed in its own country. 122 points, almost nothing.
Everything was prepared in Madring where all kinds of personalities have been seen as it could not be otherwise. Heat and sun, 32 degrees, and a tailwind on the finish line. 57 exciting laps await us. The co-equipiers know it and run to their positions. The Spanish Grand Prix is about to begin, here in Madrid.
The reconnaissance lap has begun.
A LOT OF VARIETY FOR TIRES. First line for medium, second for soft, and third and fourth for hard. Carlos Sainz and Fernando Alonso will start on hard ones, like the vast majority of drivers on the grid, many of them without testing them throughout this weekend.
The pilots are already in place.
The race has begun.
