RB8 tears through Madrid's rail tunnels as football and tennis stars invade the Spanish GP paddock
Another race weekend and another masterclass from Kimi Antonelli, who won the Spanish Grand Prix in its first edition at the Madring — aided by a slice of luck with the virtual safety car timing that moved the Mercedes driver past McLaren's Lando Norris, while a pit stop under the VSC also benefited Red Bull's Max Verstappen, who finished second. Ferrari's Charles Leclerc was a solid fourth after leading for more than 30 laps, home hero Carlos Sainz retired his Williams, and Fernando Alonso of Aston Martin finished only 17th.
Yet Madrid, hosting Formula 1 for the first time in more than four decades, delivered just as much action away from the track.
Driving around Madrid in style
Red Bull wanted the entire town to know Formula 1 was in town. The team put the 2012 World Championship-winning RB8 back on track — quite literally — driving it through Madrid's rail tunnels on specially designed wheels as part of the On Rails project that began in the city six months ago. It is set to be one of the enduring images of the maiden Grand Prix at the Madring.
A new look for Williams
A special Grand Prix required a special look, and Williams harked back to its past with a new livery and race suits inspired by the championship-winning FW07C, which raced at Jarama, Madrid, in 1981. That season delivered a memorable performance for the outfit, which took the Teams' honours with Carlos Reutemann and Alan Jones finishing second and third in the Drivers' Championship. The 2026 race did not go their way, but the look was a future inspired by a great past.
Football enters the paddock
It was impossible to avoid the football world in Madrid. Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto of Alpine enjoyed a special chauffeur around Madrid in former Real Madrid player and manager, French legend Zinedine Zidane. Former Spain internationals Iker Casillas, Fernando Llorente and Raul Gonzalez joined Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton for padel rallies at the Madring, before Hamilton and Leclerc headed to the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium to show off their football skills.
Max Verstappen's paddock souvenir came courtesy of Atletico Madrid pair David Hancko and Jan Oblak, as the four-time World Champion scored one of their famed red-and-white striped jerseys. Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, midfielder Jude Bellingham, defender Trent Alexander-Arnold and forward Vinicius Jr were among those trading the Bernabéu for the Spanish Grand Prix paddock, looking right at home as Formula 1 returned to the Spanish capital.
Spanish tennis royalty in the house
22-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal was never likely to miss the landmark weekend in his home country. The Spanish tennis legend was spotted at the circuit alongside his father, Sebastián Nadal, taking in the atmosphere as packed crowds witnessed the long-awaited return of Grand Prix racing to Madrid.
New chefs in the house!
Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas had their own culinary moment in Madrid. The "Cheltteri" pairing took on one of Spain's most iconic culinary challenges: the tortilla flip. Judging by their efforts, the pair had clearly been paying attention, showing off impressive technique as they embraced local culture away from the track.
Special helmets for the Madring debut
Several drivers marked the occasion with custom-designed helmets. Fernando Alonso turned heads with a special all-black helmet created by BOSS — a bold fashion-forward statement from the two-time champion. Carlos Sainz marked his home race with a helmet wrapped in the colours of the Spanish flag, celebrating the occasion of racing in Madrid while looking back at the milestones that shaped his career, including references to his very first kart race in 2005 and the achievements of his father, two-time World Rally Champion Carlos Sainz Sr.
Lando Norris, meanwhile, collaborated with local artist Sandra Del Pilar, inviting her to "represent the city through her eyes". The result was a striking mix of vivid colours and artistic flourishes inspired by Madrid's character, turning the McLaren driver's helmet into a colourful masterpiece.
An alpine skier with an Alpine driver?
Pierre Gasly found himself in good company as he met Olympic and World Champion skier Bode Miller. The pair traded stories from their respective sports, comparing the thrill of carving through snow with the challenge of threading an F1 car through a high-speed corner.