€60,000 jamón and obstructed views: Madrid's F1 debut thrills off-track but delivers a procession on it
MADRID, Spain — Since Liberty Media took control of Formula 1 in 2017 and the sport surged in popularity, race weekends have changed dramatically. As sold-out events become commonplace, fan experience matters more than ever to promoters — a grand prix is no longer simply about what happens on the track.
At the Madring on Madrid's outskirts last weekend, it's probably for the best that success wasn't judged solely on the poor racing spectacle. A lack of overtaking opportunities turned F1's newest race into a forgettable procession. But the promoters always had big ambitions, even in year one, as Madrid took over from Barcelona as host of the Spanish Grand Prix.
The final weekend attendance was 353,000, according to figures distributed by the F1 organization, and organizers wanted to create the biggest fan zone in F1, following the lead of Miami, Las Vegas and Mexico City by giving fans a true flavor of the location. "That's why you will see so many jamón stands and tapas stands in the paddock," Carlos Sainz, the Williams driver and an ambassador for the race, said last Thursday. "We want to make sure there's plenty of concerts around the grand prix. And people get to enjoy the whole weekend, not just the racing."
Easy access earns praise
One of the easiest ways to reflect a city's culture is through proximity, and street races like Las Vegas can weave the famous Strip into the track. Six miles from Madrid's city center, the IFEMA Exhibition Centre's location was more challenging for organizers — but ensuring easy transport was a priority, and the access received much praise. The metro ride from Nuevos Ministerios in the city center to Feria de Madrid, right by the fan zone behind the main straight, took just 12 minutes — a smooth journey that contrasted with the train queues at Zandvoort last month and long taxi waits at the Hungaroring in July.
One quirk of the Madring meant fans could not roam the whole circuit. They were restricted to either the north or south sections, divided by the highway running over the track. The north section, from Turns 7 to 17, hosted an enormous fan zone with driver stage interviews; those in the south zone, behind the start/finish grandstand, had a more modest offering — though easier access and shorter concession lines partly made up for it.
Sightline complaints and racing drama
A common complaint on social media concerned views from seats. In extreme cases, railings restricted views, while many fans cited poor sightlines or bridges in the way. In a general admission zone near the GE24 grandstand between Turns 14 and 15, fans preferred higher sections to avoid having sightlines blocked by a row of portaloos, while a large Pirelli-branded bridge crossing to the main fan area also obstructed views toward Turn 15.
Merchandise and concession offerings were largely standard — free water refill stations, typical food options and regular team merchandise. Vast seating areas offered some shade from the relentless Madrid sun, another challenge given most grandstands were unsheltered.
A taste of Madrid — and a corporate hit
Sainz's ambition to reflect Madrid's culture came through in the paddock, which used IFEMA's exhibition halls and outdoor space for team hospitality and featured Spanish tortillas, pastries and ice creams. One of the longest queues was for thin slices of jamón from a 12-year 'vintage' worth €60,000 ($70,000; £51,000) per leg, according to the stand's host.
But the paddock's sheer size meant it lost some of the typical buzz — the motorhome area was quiet even hours before the race, as guests were housed elsewhere in the Paddock Club and hospitality areas. This was a very big corporate race: pit lane walks were packed with guests led by hosts carrying sponsor placards, in scenes reminiscent of Miami and Las Vegas. It could become 'the' European F1 race for big brands, thanks to Madrid's easy access and available space.
"The location is good," said Toto Wolff, Mercedes' team principal. "We're thinking about how much more we can do next year in terms of events or presentations, because we have the space, and that's very rare in Formula 1." Wolff added that "for a first (event), it's probably one of the best, or maybe the best, that I've seen."
Verdict: operational success, on-track challenge
Madrid avoided the debut-year issues that blighted Miami — hospitality areas running short of food — and Las Vegas, where the track surface broke up. Avoiding significant hiccups on the first run must be considered a success, especially given clear scope for improvement.
On the poor racing, Wolff said there had already been talks with promoters about changing the track layout, showing willingness to adapt. Still, the overriding memory of the first Madrid race will be the spectacle — or lack of it. What happens on track will always define a race's success, especially with most viewership on TV. With so much space around the IFEMA, improvements seem possible. From an operational standpoint, Madrid's organizers can take pride — but fixing the on-track show, and making it easier to see, must sit at the very top of the list for year two.