Five ways Madrid can improve their track after the underwhelming F1 debut
Formula 1’s return to Madrid after 45 years was operationally convincing, yet the racing left fans wanting more. Madring made effective use of the IFEMA fairgrounds, with its existing facilities, public-transport links and proximity to Barajas International Airport helping 110,000 spectators enter and leave with few major problems.
That achievement matters for a first-time event. But F1 is ultimately judged by what happens on track. Qualifying delivered a compelling spectacle; the 5.4-kilometre race circuit, however, offered virtually no realistic overtaking. Drivers were especially critical of the narrow, awkward sequences that made it easy for the car ahead to defend.
With organisers and the FIA already assessing changes — as covered in Madring organisers prepare overtaking changes for the 2027 Spanish Grand Prix — five priorities stand out.
1. Fix Turn 5
Turn 5 was the clearest missed opportunity. It followed the longest flat-out section after the opening sequence and should have been the circuit’s natural passing point. Instead, its combined braking-and-steering entry, limited width, high kerbs and nearby walls left drivers with little room to attack without risking contact or being forced into the asphalt runoff.
A redesign must give cars different approaches and create a genuine braking battle.
2. Re-think the second half
La Monumental, the heavily cambered Turn 12, was Madring’s visual highlight and a thrilling trackside experience. Its complexity looked spectacular, but it did not materially improve the racing. The corners that followed reinforced the single-file feel.
Lando Norris proposed bypassing Turns 18 and 19 to create another long straight into a wider, more versatile Turn 20 hairpin. That would also require the exit barriers to be realigned so they no longer encroach on the racing line.
3. Make the venue more compact
IFEMA’s scale brought logistical advantages, but the vast site made movement difficult. The 540-metre pitlane, including a 100-metre split around existing buildings, also discouraged alternative strategies. On a circuit where overtaking is scarce, reducing pitlane time could help make strategic variation more meaningful.
4. Improve sights and sightlines
Beyond La Monumental, much of the circuit looked anonymous. Alex Wurz warned that the concrete channel could resemble almost any street circuit rather than Madrid. Stronger visual links to the host city, alongside better grandstand sightlines, would improve the experience for spectators and viewers.
5. Raise the fan experience
Some fan zones and general-admission areas felt sparse, while the podium design stopped short of allowing a full track invasion. Year one was about safety and execution. With a 10-year contract and the venue’s space and facilities, Madring now has the opportunity to become not merely smooth, but memorable.
Simone Scanu
He’s 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.