Forty-five years after the last Grand Prix held at the Jarama circuit, Formula 1 is preparing to return to the Spanish capital in a city dominated by football and the successes of Real Madrid.
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The idea of organizing a Grand Prix in Madrid still seemed unlikely a few years ago. Luis Garcia Abad, general manager of the Madring and former manager of Fernando Alonso, himself admits that the project initially seemed like a joke or a fantasy.
“A F1 Grand Prix is like a unicorn. You always try to see the unicorn, but in the end you realize that sometimes it’s impossible,” he explains.
An experience beyond the race
However, the project gradually took shape, allowing Madrid to secure a ten-year contract with Formula 1. The organizers are relying notably on the capital’s public transport and encourage spectators to leave their cars at home. The goal is also to offer an experience far beyond the race itself.
“It’s not just Madrid that needs F1. Maybe F1 also needs Madrid,” Garcia Abad believes. “We are investing money to create an experience at the heart of a city.”
In total, 85 million euros have been invested in the circuit, with an additional 65 million dedicated to surrounding infrastructure. Construction was not easy, with work starting during the wettest winter Spain has seen in twenty years.
La Monumental as a symbol
The Madring is a hybrid circuit composed of public roads and a specially built section. Its 22 corners, elevation changes, and proximity to walls should offer a significant challenge to the drivers.
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Its main attraction will obviously be “La Monumental,” the spectacular banked corner (photo above) around which more than 30,000 spectators can gather: “We really wanted to have an iconic part of the circuit,” explains Garcia Abad.
Charles Leclerc, who has already discovered the track, reportedly told him he found it incredible. Garcia Abad nevertheless acknowledges that overtaking should not be easy: “I think there will be overtaking opportunities, but they won’t come for free. We’re talking about gladiators, the best drivers in the world.”
The best circuit on the calendar?
Formula 3 drivers who have already driven on the Madring are also enthusiastic. Spaniard Bruno del Pino compares the track to Jeddah but considers it even more difficult due to its fast corners and proximity to the walls.
Audi F1 junior Freddie Slater goes even further: “It’s one of the best circuits on the calendar, if not the best. It has character, bumps, ups and downs. It’s a bit more old-school.”
The real verdict will, however, come from the race and the spectators. In a city accustomed to major sporting events, Madrid will have to prove that Formula 1 can find its place alongside football.
For the organizers, the Madring is meant to represent the future of F1: a demanding circuit integrated into a major city and accompanied by a complete experience for spectators. Now it remains to be seen if this ambitious bet will also translate into a convincing spectacle on track.
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