Max Verstappen has issued a warning regarding the new Madring circuit in Madrid, anticipating significant challenges and potential ‘big shunts’ ahead of its Formula 1 debut this weekend. The four-time world champion described the track as ‘very difficult’ and ‘not an easy track at all’ after simulator runs.
The Madring circuit, hosting the Spanish Grand Prix for the first time, has already garnered a reputation for its demanding nature. A two-day Formula 3 test session held on August 24 and 25 saw 19 red flags and ten drivers crashing into barriers.
Williams team principal James Vowles has labelled the 5.416-kilometre circuit a ‘car killer’. He noted that the F3 testing resulted in three broken chassis and six broken suspensions, highlighting the track’s punishing characteristics.
Vowles also pointed to the sustained G-forces experienced in the banked La Monumental corner, a unique feature on the F1 calendar. This 550-meter, 24% banked turn subjects cars to high loads for approximately four and a half seconds, posing a challenge for all car systems.
Verstappen’s concerns extend to the circuit’s layout, which he likened to Jeddah due to its fast corners and close walls. He also expressed disappointment over angled braking zones, which he believes will make overtaking particularly difficult.
Carlos Sainz, who has been involved in promoting the Madrid event, initially praised the circuit but later acknowledged its complexity. He stated the track is ‘more challenging than I thought’ in the simulator, especially the La Monumental section.
Sainz anticipates frequent safety car deployments, yellow flags, and red flags during the qualifying and race sessions. He compared the Madring’s challenge to other demanding street circuits such as Jeddah, Baku, and Macau.
Operational safety concerns have also been raised by Isabel Omaque, head of Madring’s medical centre. The absence of service roads alongside the track could lead to more frequent Virtual Safety Cars, Safety Cars, or red flags for incident management.
Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has acknowledged the demanding nature of the new venue. He indicated that driver errors at the Madring could prove costly, requiring a precise balance between aggression and caution.
The Madring circuit features 22 corners and demands absolute precision when navigating its aggressive curbs and rapid direction changes. The tight chicane between turns 5 and 6, along with turn 17, were identified as problematic sections during F3 testing.
‘It’s going to be very difficult,’ Verstappen stated. ‘It’s not an easy track. If you do a few laps in a row, it’s always hard to cross the line and say ‘I nailed the lap’. It’s very hard. It also has a tendency of creating some big shunts in some places.’
The implications for heavier and more powerful Formula 1 cars on this circuit remain a key point of discussion within the paddock as the Spanish Grand Prix weekend commences.
