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Charles Leclerc and Ferrari gave the new Madring circuit its first laps with a Formula 1 car on Thursday, as the team completed a filming session at the venue that will join the calendar in 2026.
The run marked a significant early milestone for the Madrid track, which will host the Spanish Grand Prix on the weekend of September 11-13. Built around a 20-turn layout that blends public roads with permanent circuit sections, the Madring has now moved from concept and promotional activity to its first live F1 mileage.
Ferrari used its SF-26 for the session, sharing photographs and video clips on social media from Thursday morning. Leclerc was the first driver to take to the circuit, while team mate Lewis Hamilton was also scheduled to complete laps during the day.
As with any filming day, the competitive value of the running is limited. Ferrariâs mileage was restricted, and the car ran on promotional Pirelli tyres, meaning the session cannot be treated as a full performance test. Even so, for Leclerc, Hamilton and Ferrari, the outing offered an important first impression of a circuit that will soon become part of the championship landscape.
That matters because new venues demand rapid learning. Sight lines, braking references, surface changes and the rhythm between permanent and public-road sections are all elements drivers and engineers can begin to assess, even under filming-day constraints. Ferrari will not have left Madrid with a complete competitive picture, but it will have gathered the kind of early reference points that matter when a new Grand Prix approaches.
The run followed Carlos Sainzâs special media tour in May, when the Williams driver took F1.comâs Lawrence Barretto for high-speed laps in a Ford Mustang. Thursday, however, was the first time the Madring had been sampled by an actual Formula 1 car. For more background on Ferrariâs planned appearance at the venue, see our earlier report on the SF-26 filming day at Madridâs new Madring circuit.
Ferrari came into the Madring outing fresh from a strong British Grand Prix weekend. Leclerc won the race, with Hamilton finishing third, a result that strengthened the teamâs push toward a 2026 title challenge.
Against that backdrop, the Madrid laps carried more than promotional value. They placed Ferrari at the centre of a symbolic first for Formula 1âs newest Spanish venue, while giving its drivers an early feel for a circuit that could soon carry genuine championship weight.
Heâs a software engineer with a deep passion for Formula 1 and motorsport. He co-founded Formula Live Pulse to make live telemetry and race insights accessible, visual, and easy to follow.