New Madrid Circuit Set to Shake Up Formula 1’s Spanish Grand Prix

Formula 1 will debut the new Madring circuit in Madrid at the Spanish Grand Prix from September 11-13, bringing the championship to a 22-corner track that combines public roads and private land. The circuit replaces Barcelona-Catalunya as the venue for this year’s Spanish round and is expected to offer a very different challenge.

A high-risk debut

The track’s defining features include close walls, blind and high-speed corners, and what is described as the longest banked turn on the Formula 1 calendar. Overtaking could be difficult because many corners appear to offer only one racing line, placing a premium on qualifying performance.

Max Verstappen compared the sensation of driving around the Madring to sections of Jeddah and called it “probably a car killer” after hearing about the difficulties encountered during an earlier Formula 3 test. That two-day test reportedly produced 19 red flags, most of them caused by crashes.

“It probably is a car killer from what I’ve seen so far but you just need to try and stay out of the walls and try to get the best possible feeling in the car,” Verstappen said.

George Russell described the circuit as potentially “the most risky circuit of the whole calendar,” pointing to its combination of fast corners, heavy braking zones and limited room for error. Lewis Hamilton also said the track was among the most difficult new venues he had encountered, comparing the challenge of learning it with Saudi Arabia.

Carlos Sainz, who contributed to the circuit’s design, said the layout had “character” and was unlike what drivers are accustomed to. Pierre Gasly expects a hectic weekend, saying the unusual combination of blind corners and banking could create “huge adrenaline” and plenty of mistakes.

Antonelli arrives with championship advantage

Kimi Antonelli enters the 14th race weekend at the top of the Drivers’ Championship after winning the previous round at Monza. He leads Mercedes teammate George Russell by 66 points, with Lewis Hamilton 76 points behind Antonelli and Lando Norris 96 points adrift.

The unfamiliar circuit could disrupt the established competitive order. Mercedes has been strong in recent races, but the Madring’s kerbs, walls and unusual corner sequences will test whether that form carries over to Madrid.

Spanish Grand Prix schedule and viewing information

Based on Eastern Time, Formula 1 practice begins on Friday, September 11, at 7:30 a.m., followed by second practice at 11 a.m. Final practice is scheduled for 6:30 a.m. Saturday, with qualifying at 10 a.m. The Spanish Grand Prix starts at 9 a.m. ET on Sunday, September 13.

Formula 1’s official global schedule lists the corresponding local start times as 1:30 p.m. for first practice, 5 p.m. for second practice, 12:30 p.m. for final practice, 4 p.m. for qualifying and 3 p.m. for the race. Sky Sports’ UK broadcast schedule lists the Grand Prix at 2 p.m. UK time, with build-up beginning at 12:30 p.m.

Fans can watch every Formula 1 session through F1 TV Pro in selected countries, while F1 TV Premium offers live 4K Ultra HD/HDR coverage, multiple device access and a personalised Multiview feature on supported devices. Live timing will also be available through F1.com and the F1 app. Sky Sports will provide live coverage in the UK, including both Friday practice sessions.

Support races add to the weekend

Formula 2 returns with Nikola Tsolov leading Rafael Camara by 11 points. Formula 3 reaches its season finale in Madrid, where Freddie Slater holds a 15-point advantage over Ugo Ugochukwu in the title race.

Warm and sunny conditions, with temperatures expected to exceed 30 degrees Celsius and little chance of rain, are forecast across the three days. With the championship leaders facing a circuit that has yet to host an official Formula 1 session, the Madrid debut could become one of the most unpredictable weekends of the season.