The brand new Madring will host the Spanish Grand Prix for the first time in 2026. Image: Madring
Formula 1 breaks new ground in Madrid this weekend as the all-new Madring circuit hosts the Spanish Grand Prix for the first time.
Measuring 5.416km and featuring 22 corners, the new venue combines street-style sections with purpose-built track around the IFEMA Madrid exhibition centre, creating an entirely new challenge for drivers and teams.
Madring becomes the 79th different circuit to host F1 and the first completely new venue to join the calendar since Las Vegas in 2023.
It is also the sixth different circuit to stage the Spanish Grand Prix, which celebrates its 56th running as a world championship event this weekend.
Madrid itself is welcoming Formula 1 back for the first time in 45 years, having last hosted a grand prix at Jarama in 1981.
While the entire layout will be unfamiliar territory, one corner has already emerged as the defining feature of the circuit.
Turn 12, known as La Monumental, stretches for roughly 550 metres and features banking of up to 24 percent, making it the longest banked corner on the F1 calendar.
Drivers are expected to spend around six seconds negotiating the sweeping turn, which has been designed as the spectacular centrepiece of Madring.
The circuit should also provide plenty of variety elsewhere, with expected speeds of around 340km/h on its straights alongside slower, wall-lined sections and significant elevation changes.
Kimi Antonelli arrives in Madrid with all the momentum after strengthening his grip on the drivers’ championship with a remarkable victory on home soil at Monza.
The Mercedes star came from 19th on the grid to win the Italian Grand Prix and stretch his championship advantage over teammate George Russell to 66 points.
Russell could consider himself unfortunate after producing an impressive weekend of his own in Italy, only to fall short of converting it into victory as the gap to Antonelli continued to grow.
Mercedes will therefore head to another new challenge as the benchmark, while Ferrari desperately needs a response after a difficult home race.
Charles Leclerc crashed out at Monza, while Lewis Hamilton could manage only sixth as Ferrari failed to capitalise on the enormous support of the Tifosi.
Hamilton has already tasted victory in Spain this season after winning in Barcelona and now has another chance to maintain his title hopes in Madrid.
The seven-time world champion also shares the record for the most Spanish Grand Prix victories with Michael Schumacher on six, giving him the opportunity to become the outright record holder this weekend.
McLaren will meanwhile hope the uncertainty of a brand-new venue can provide an opportunity to return to the top step.
Oscar Piastri is the defending Spanish Grand Prix winner after triumphing at Barcelona in 2025, although the Australian arrives in Madrid still searching for the victory that could spark his difficult 2026 campaign.
Piastri showed encouraging pace at Monza and spent much of the race in podium contention before becoming embroiled in a late battle with teammate Lando Norris.
He eventually lost fourth to Norris on the final lap, leaving him fifth and still without the result needed to inject fresh momentum into his season.
Norris will again be a threat after finishing ahead of Piastri in Italy, with McLaren likely hoping Madring’s mix of corner types proves more suitable to the MCL40 than Monza’s emphasis on straight-line speed.
Red Bull also enters the weekend looking to build on Max Verstappen’s podium finish in Italy, while Liam Lawson will remain alongside the four-time world champion for a third consecutive race as Isack Hadjar continues his recovery from a wrist injury.
The home crowd, however, may reserve its loudest reception for Spain’s two drivers.
Fernando Alonso remains one of the country’s biggest sporting figures and will again receive enormous support, but this weekend carries particular significance for Carlos Sainz.
The Williams driver is a Madrid local and has been one of the most prominent faces of the new grand prix since the project was announced, making his first F1 race in his home city an especially significant occasion.
With Madrid hosting F1 for the first time since 1981, a completely unknown circuit awaiting the grid, Antonelli carrying a 66-point championship lead and both Alonso and Sainz racing in front of a passionate home crowd, the inaugural Madring weekend promises to be one of the most anticipated events of the season.
When is the Spanish Grand Prix?
The Spanish Grand Prix at the Madring takes place on September 11-13 (AEST).
What time does the Spanish Grand Prix start?
The Spanish Grand Prix will start at 11pm AEST on Sunday, September 13. Scroll down for more time zones.
Formula 1 Spanish Grand Prix schedule
Friday, 11 September
Session
Duration
Local
AEST
ACST
AWST
NZST
FIA Formula 3
Practice Session
45 minutes
9:55
17:55
17:25
15:55
19:55
FIA Formula 2
Practice Session
45 minutes
11:05
19:05
18:35
17:05
21:05
FORMULA 1
FIRST PRACTICE SESSION
60 minutes
13:30
21:30
21:00
19:30
23:30
FIA Formula 2
Qualifying Session
30 minutes
15:00
23:00
22:30
21:00
1:00
FORMULA 1
SECOND PRACTICE SESSION
60 minutes
17:00
1:00
0:30
23:00
3:00
FIA Formula 3
Qualifying Session 1
20 minutes
18:25
2:25
1:55
0:25
4:25
FIA Formula 3
Qualifying Session 2
20 minutes
18:55
2:55
2:25
0:55
4:55
Satuday, 12 September
FIA Formula 3
Sprint Race (16 Laps or 40 Mins +1 Lap)
40 minutes
11:05
19:05
18:35
17:05
21:05
FORMULA 1
THIRD PRACTICE SESSION
60 minutes
0:30
8:30
8:00
6:30
10:30
FIA Formula 2
Sprint Race (23 Laps or 45 Mins +1 Lap)
45 minutes
14:15
22:15
21:45
20:15
0:15
FORMULA 1
QUALIFYING SESSION
60 minutes
16:00
0:00
23:30
22:00
2:00
FIA Formula 3
Feature Race 1 (19 Laps or 45 Mins +1 Lap)
45 minutes
18:00
2:00
1:30
0:00
4:00
Sunday, 13 September
FIA Formula 3
Feature Race 2 (19 Laps or 45 Mins +1 Lap)
45 minutes
9:45
17:45
17:15
15:45
19:45
FIA Formula 2
Feature Race (32 Laps or 60 Mins +1 Lap)
60 minutes
11:25
19:25
18:55
17:25
21:25
FORMULA 1
GRAND PRIX (57 LAPS OR 120 MINS)
120 minutes
15:00
23:00
22:30
21:00
1:00
What is the weather for the Spanish Grand Prix?
A hot and dry weekend is expected in Madrid, with temperatures forecast to reach around 32 degrees Celsius on Friday and Saturday before climbing to about 33 degrees on Sunday, with sunny conditions and no forecast rain across all three days.
How to watch the Spanish Grand Prix in Australia
The Spanish Grand Prix will be live on Fox Sports 506. There is no live free-to-air coverage or post-race free-to-air highlights of the event in Australia.
Can I live stream the Spanish Grand Prix in Australia?
The Spanish Grand Prix will be broadcast live on Foxtel’s subscription streaming services Foxtel Go and Kayo Sports.
How to watch F1 TV commentary feed
The alternative F1 TV commentary feed is available to Foxtel customers with a set top box. Kayo Sports subscribers can only watch the F1 TV feed during Sunday’s Grand Prix.
Spanish Grand Prix Fox Sports broadcast times (AEST)
Friday, September 11
Practice 1: 9:00pm-10:55pm AEST
Fox Sports 506, Kayo Sports, Foxtel Go
Practice 2: 12:45pm-2:15am AEST
Fox Sports 506, Kayo Sports, Foxtel Go
Saturday, September 12
Practice 3: 8:16pm-9:45pm AEST
Fox Sports 506, Kayo Sports, Foxtel Go
Qualifying: 11:55pm-1:05am AEST
Fox Sports 506, Kayo Sports, Foxtel Go
Sunday, September 13
Build-up: 9:30pm-10:55pm AEST
Fox Sports 506, Kayo Sports, Foxtel Go
Race: 10:55pm-1:00am AEST
Fox Sports 506, Kayo Sports, Foxtel Go
How to watch the Spanish Grand Prix in New Zealand
Sky Sport will broadcast the Spanish Grand Prix, with Sky Sport 3 carrying the action for qualifying and FP3, while Sky Sport 1 will show both Friday practice sessions and the race.
Can I live stream the Spanish Grand Prix in New Zealand?
The Spanish Grand Prix will be broadcast live on Sky Sport’s subscription streaming service Sky Go or Sky Sport Now.
Spanish Grand Prix Sky Sports broadcast times (NZST)
Friday, September 11
Practice 1: 11:00pm-12:55am NZST
Sky Sport 1, Sky Sport Now, SkyGo
Saturday, September 12
Practice 2: 2:45am-4:20am NZST
Sky Sport 1, Sky Sport Now, SkyGo
Practice 3: 10:00pm-12:10am NZST
Sky Sport 3, Sky Sport Now, SkyGo
Sunday, September 13
Qualifying: 1:15am-3:55am NZST
Sky Sport 3, Sky Sport Now, SkyGo
Build-up: 11:30pm-12:55am NZST
Sky Sport 1, Sky Sport Now, SkyGo
Monday, September 14
Race: 12:55am-3:00am NZST
Sky Sport 1, Sky Sport Now, SkyGo
Formula 1 Drivers’ Championship (After Italian GP)
Pos
Num
Driver
Team
Wins
Poles
Points
Diff
Gap
1
12
Kimi Antonelli
Mercedes
7
6
267
2
63
George Russell
Mercedes
2
4
201
66
66
3
44
Lewis Hamilton
Ferrari
1
0
191
76
10
4
1
Lando Norris
McLaren
2
2
171
96
20
5
16
Charles Leclerc
Ferrari
1
0
155
112
16
6
3
Max Verstappen
Red Bull
0
0
127
140
28
7
81
Oscar Piastri
McLaren
0
0
116
151
11
8
6
Isack Hadjar
Red Bull
0
0
71
196
45
9
30
Liam Lawson
Racing Bulls/Red Bull
0
0
51
216
20
10
10
Pierre Gasly
Alpine
0
1
41
226
10
11
6
Arvid Lindblad
Racing Bulls
0
0
29
238
12
12
43
Franco Colapinto
Alpine
0
0
21
246
8
13
87
Oliver Bearman
Haas
0
0
18
249
3
14
5
Gabriel Bortoleto
Audi
0
0
10
257
8
15
27
Nico Hulkenberg
Audi
0
0
6
261
4
15
55
Carlos Sainz
Williams
0
0
6
261
0
17
23
Alexander Albon
Williams
0
0
5
262
1
18
31
Esteban Ocon
Haas
0
0
3
264
2
18
14
Fernando Alonso
Aston Martin
0
0
3
264
0
20
22
Yuki Tsunoda
Racing Bulls
0
0
1
266
2
21
18
Lance Stroll
Aston Martin
0
0
0
266
1
21
77
Valtteri Bottas
Cadillac
0
0
0
267
0
21
11
Sergio Perez
Cadillac
0
0
0
267
0