Red Bull Racing recently deployed its 2012 championship-winning RB8 Formula 1 car onto the tracks of the Madrid Metro. This unique demonstration featured former F1 driver Patrick Friesacher at the wheel, navigating the underground network. The stunt served as a promotional event for the inaugural Spanish Grand Prix at the new Madring circuit, scheduled for this weekend.
The RB8, which secured both the Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championships with Sebastian Vettel in 2012, underwent significant modifications for the unusual task. Engineers fitted the car with specially developed metal wheels, each weighing 29.8 kilograms. This weight is approximately double that of a standard Formula 1 wheel.
The adaptation project was a collaborative effort between the Oracle Red Bull Racing Heritage Team and the Spanish engineering collective Andtonic. The teams worked at Metro workshops in Canillejas, with preparations for the complex conversion taking approximately six months.
Patrick Friesacher, who competed in Formula 1 for Minardi in 2005, described the experience as unprecedented. He drove the adapted RB8 through a closed section of the Metro network.
‘It was an unbelievable experience. I’ve been lucky enough to experience a lot with our Heritage team, but driving an F1 car on railway tracks was surreal. It’s very cool to add Metro driver to the resume,’ Friesacher stated.
The route included runs past the Estadio Metropolitano station and through the Sacedal and Chamartín maintenance depots. This marked the first instance of Red Bull adapting one of its F1 cars to operate on railway tracks.
The Spanish Grand Prix returns to Madrid this year for the first time since 1981, when the race was held at the Circuito del Jarama. The new Madring circuit will host the event from September 11-13, marking the 14th round of the 2026 Formula 1 season.
The Madring is a 5.416-kilometre street circuit built around the IFEMA Exhibition Centre. It features 22 turns and boasts a capacity of 110,000 spectators, with plans for expansion to 140,000 within five years.
Designed by Jarno Zaffelli, the circuit includes a notable feature known as ‘La Monumental,’ a banked corner with a 24% gradient, equivalent to 13.5 degrees. This makes it the longest banked corner in Formula 1.
A new Metro station will be integrated within the Madring circuit complex, providing direct public transport access for thousands of spectators. This accessibility aligns with the event’s sustainability goals, aiming for 90% of fans to use public transport.
Red Bull Racing has a history of conducting promotional stunts in unusual locations, including the Himalayas and the Dead Sea. However, the Madrid Metro project represents a new engineering challenge for the team.
The Spanish Grand Prix at the Madring circuit will be a significant event for the capital. Max Verstappen, currently driving for Red Bull, is still seeking his first victory of the 2026 season, with Mercedes having dominated much of the campaign.
