This week in Madrid’s Puerta del Sol, fans of Formula One fervently sought the favor of luck for their favorite drivers as they prepared for a new circuit that promises to be extremely challenging.
According to local lore, touching the bear’s paws or rear on the iconic El Oso y el Madroño statue at the square is believed to bring good fortune. The drivers may indeed need a bit of luck, especially after the first day of activities at the Madring track, which began with an alarming incident involving F2 driver Tasanapol Inthraphuvasak, who crashed into the barriers and caused his car to ignite, leaving F1 star George Russell visibly taken aback.
Despite earlier concerns about the track’s readiness, the Madring is completed and ready for racing. The real question now is what kind of competition it will offer during the Spanish Grand Prix. Marketed as a street circuit, it is actually a blend of public roads and a specially designed track; it features narrow lanes, swift turns, and walls that loom close throughout the course, creating a scenario with minimal room for mistakes.
This was evidenced during Friday’s F2 practice session. Russell, who had previously labeled the Madring as the “most dangerous” circuit on the calendar, was observing the practice alongside some journalists in the Mercedes motorhome when Inthraphuvasak’s crash occurred.
“Oh wow,” Russell remarked. “This circuit is absolutely wild.” Inthraphuvasak managed to escape his flaming vehicle shortly after it caught fire following a high-speed rear-end collision with the barriers after losing control at turn 19. Russell noted that the Madring presents a tougher challenge than Monaco.
“I would say this circuit offers less room for error, mainly due to the high speeds involved,” he explained. “In Monaco, the walls are closer, but since you’re traveling at lower speeds, a mistake doesn’t always lead to immediate contact with the wall, and recovery is sometimes possible. Here, the margin for error is much smaller.”
Russell elaborated that the combination of fast corners and the angles of the exit barriers complicates matters. “Look at this barrier,” he pointed out, gesturing toward where Inthraphuvasak’s damaged car lay. “If you veer wide and hit the wall, you’re not impacting it at the same angle as your car’s trajectory. The car moves towards the wall while the wall angles inward.”
During a recent F3 test at the same circuit, 19 red flags were deployed, and three cars sustained chassis damage. “They’re Formula 3 drivers, but this track can be punishing on vehicles,” commented James Vowles, the team principal of Williams. Russell expressed his surprise that there were only 19 red flags.
Lewis Hamilton shared Russell’s apprehension, stating, “This circuit is incredibly demanding. Of all the new tracks I’ve encountered, this one, along with Saudi Arabia, is among the toughest in terms of mastering the car and finding the ideal racing lines.”
However, there was some positive news following the initial practice session, which took place without any interruptions, and only minor contact with the barriers. The drivers quickly adapted to the circuit, with Russell clocking the fastest time for Mercedes, ahead of his teammate Kimi Antonelli, who currently leads Russell in the championship standings by 66 points. In the second practice session, Britain’s Arvid Lindblad lost control of his Racing Bulls car at turn 13, crashing sideways into the barriers in a heavy collision, though he emerged uninjured. The session was briefly halted due to the red flag but later resumed, concluding with Antonelli securing the top spot, followed by Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Hamilton.
The thrilling atmosphere was certainly present, as intended, with cars reaching high speeds on a narrow track bordered by walls, exemplified by the signature corner La Monumental, a 550-meter stretch featuring a 13.5-degree bank. Cars accelerate dramatically through this section, compressing against the track amid a grandstand amphitheater before descending over a blind crest. Additionally, turn eight, known as “El Bunker,” is named after two bunkers constructed in 1936 by Republican forces during the Spanish Civil War, with their preservation being a stipulation for the circuit’s construction.
While the circuit may not boast the picturesque backdrop of Monaco, it is surrounded by the unremarkable grey buildings typical of convention centers in industrial areas. Some parts still resemble construction zones, yet the essential elements are in place, and fans can reach the venue with just a 20-minute subway ride from the city. This development is a significant achievement, especially considering the earlier objections related to costs, construction, and noise level complaints surpassing legal limits.
Located near the Institución Ferial de Madrid convention center, positioned between the city center and the airport, the circuit aligns well with F1’s vision of “destination races” in urban settings. This approach aims to create events that serve as entertainment weekends, akin to the Super Bowl, attracting fans and investment to the host city. Nevertheless, there are still concerns regarding the nature of the racing that will take place on Sunday. While the drivers agree it will be an exhilarating technical challenge demanding precision, they are skeptical about the potential for overtaking. Max Verstappen, a four-time world champion, noted that the main braking zones at turns five, eight, and 17 are angled, making overtaking virtually impossible as drivers tend to position their cars centrally on the track.
“You can’t really attempt an overtake because as you brake, you’re also steering either left or right, which is counterproductive to creating overtaking opportunities,” he remarked. This situation presents a significant test for both the drivers and the circuit.
