Lando Norris believes that a few relatively simple changes would be enough to transform the Madring after a very poor first Grand Prix in terms of overtaking.
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Spectacular in qualifying, much less convincing in the race. The Madring did not really impress Lando Norris for his first Spanish Grand Prix, despite a pole position secured at the end of what Andrea Stella had described as a true masterpiece.
The next day, the assessment was much less flattering. Apart from the moves on the first lap, only four overtakes were recorded during the race. Third behind Kimi Antonelli and Max Verstappen, Norris nevertheless believes that the new Madrid circuit has real potential and that several relatively simple changes could radically improve the spectacle from 2027.
Norris wants to remove two corners
The reigning world champion is particularly targeting corners 18 and 19, located in the last sector. In his view, this sequence adds nothing to the quality of the races and especially prevents the creation of a real overtaking zone before the next corner.
Norris therefore proposes a radical solution: remove these two corners to extend the straight and have it lead directly onto a much wider hairpin.
“There are some obvious changes they should make. They should remove corners 18 and 19. It’s useless! They should just extend the straight to a hairpin.”
The Briton also does not really understand how this section could have been approved during the design of the Madring.
“I don’t know how anyone can look at this layout during its design and say: ‘Perfect’.”
“It can become an excellent circuit”
Despite his particularly harsh criticisms, Norris does not condemn the Madring as a whole. He appreciated the challenge offered at the wheel, especially on a flying lap, as demonstrated by his spectacular pole position obtained on Saturday.
For him, the problem mainly concerns the circuit’s ability to produce battles during the race. And on this point, Norris believes the organizers have significant room for improvement.
“There are a lot of possibilities. I think they can make it a really good circuit for racing and I look forward to coming back next year if they can make these changes.”
Norris even believes that the Madring has the necessary ingredients to become a success provided some areas are revised.
“It’s a very fun circuit to drive. It can become an excellent racing circuit.”
Norris takes Austin as an example
The McLaren driver notably proposes drawing an almost straight line between corner 17 and corner 20, before creating a much wider entry to a hairpin. He takes as a reference certain corners of the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, where several lines are possible under braking.
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Such a configuration would allow drivers to position themselves side by side and try different lines, whereas the current sequences of the Madring make defending particularly easy.
“In its current configuration, it’s not a very good racing circuit. It’s great in qualifying, but you should go straight from corner 17 to corner 20 and create a much wider entry, like at the first or tenth corner in Austin, with a big hairpin.”
According to Norris, this change would have an immediate effect on overtaking opportunities.
“You would create much better opportunities for everyone and you could really enjoy the race.”
Corners 5 and 6 also in the sights
Norris is far from being the only one calling for changes. Antonelli and Verstappen, who accompanied him on the podium in Madrid, also pointed out some weaknesses of the layout.
George Russell and Oliver Bearman notably criticized the sequence of corners 5 and 6.
The main problem comes from the fact that drivers have to brake while turning. This configuration makes attacks extremely difficult and allows the defending driver to easily protect their position. It also increases the risk of contact with another car or with the walls.
Norris nevertheless acknowledges that this part will be much more complicated to modify than the last sector. The sequence of corners 5, 6, and 7 represents, in his opinion, a real headache for the designers.
“There are simple changes and maybe others more complicated, like for corners 5, 6, and 7. It’s hard to know exactly what the best solution would be.”
Possible changes before 2027
One thing seems obvious to the McLaren driver: forcing drivers to turn sharply while braking goes against what generally allows good battles to happen.
“Having to turn and brake at the same time almost goes against the very principle of racing.”
Norris therefore hopes that the organizers will take advantage of the lessons from this first edition to revise the layout before Formula 1 returns to Madrid.
“They can make some simple changes, easy to implement, and maybe others more complicated. But I really hope they do.”
After a spectacular Saturday and a Sunday marked by an almost complete absence of overtaking, the first Madring Grand Prix thus highlighted a paradox: the layout pleases drivers when it comes to pushing to the limit on a lap, but much less when it comes to wheel-to-wheel fighting. For Norris, a few well-targeted changes could be enough to solve a large part of the problem.
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