{"id":891693,"date":"2026-09-14T12:52:14","date_gmt":"2026-09-14T12:52:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/891693\/"},"modified":"2026-09-14T12:52:14","modified_gmt":"2026-09-14T12:52:14","slug":"spanish-gp-plans-to-change-madring-after-fierce-criticism-from-f1-drivers-formula-one-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/891693\/","title":{"rendered":"Spanish GP plans to change Madring after fierce criticism from F1 drivers | Formula One 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"

Discussions are already under way to change the layout of Formula One\u2019s newest circuit after driver condemnation of the Madring during its inaugural grand prix. The race in Madrid was won by Mercedes\u2019 Kimi Antonelli<\/a>, but it was notable for being a procession with overtakes failing to reach double digits over 57 laps. Drivers were left frustrated and disappointed at an opportunity that had been lost, resulting in a chorus of criticism.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know how someone looks at this design and goes \u2018mint\u2019,\u201d said the defending world champion, Lando Norris<\/a>, who finished third. \u201cThere\u2019s a lot of opportunity. They can make it into a track that\u2019s good for racing and I\u2019m excited to come back here next year if they can make these changes.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe fact you have to turn and brake basically defeats the whole object of racing. They can do some simple changes. I hope they do it because then it should be more exciting for everyone.\u201d<\/p>\n

The race was far from thrilling with drivers largely circulating behind one another, albeit at high speed, but unable to find any opportunity to make a move. Audi\u2019s Gabriel Bortoleto dismissively categorised it as uninvigorating to drive in as it had been to watch. \u201cI almost fell asleep as well,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

The Madring, a hybrid circuit of part public roads and part purpose-built track, has been constructed in north-east Madrid around a conference centre on the way to the airport. Logistically, it has been a success, with transport to and from the track managed well, despite the huge numbers of fans, which F1 puts at 352,000 for the weekend.<\/p>\n

The teams enjoyed the facilities and space and it presented a high-speed and spectacular challenge on a narrow, technical circuit many drivers enjoyed over a single lap in qualifying. However, in racing terms, the track, built at a reported cost of approximately \u00a371m, was frustrating.<\/p>\n

It was designed by the Italian Jarno Zaffelli who had said he hoped \u201cpeople walk away recognising it\u2019s possible to build a street circuit that is not boring\u201d. That was a goal left sorely wanting after the race, with people walking away looking bored.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are some corners that need to be changed to create more overtaking opportunities because it\u2019s nice over one lap, but in the race you\u2019re just stuck behind,\u201d said Antonelli.<\/p>\n

Kimi Antonelli\u2019s victory gave him a lead of 81 points over his teammate, George Russell. Photograph: David Davies\/PA<\/p>\n

His feelings were echoed by Max Verstappen who finished second. \u201cIf you just drive a little bit in the middle, then you can\u2019t pass,\u201d he said. Verstappen had warned of the poor design from the moment he had first driven the track in a simulator.<\/p>\n

The Mercedes team principal, Toto Wolff<\/a>, acknowledged there were discussions about changes taking place even before the race. \u201cThe tricky bit [is] doing a track that is spectacular for the drivers and then building it in a way that there is lots of overtaking,\u201d he said. \u201cI had a discussion [on Saturday] with the CEO of the circuit and they are totally open-minded about next year.<\/p>\n

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\u201cWe\u2019ve had the discussions with the FIA. What is it we should do? How is it that we should lay the track out when it comes to overtaking? There is a constant discussion and they are on it and understand we can tweak it a little bit.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Madring has a 10-year contract to host the Spanish Grand Prix and the McLaren<\/a> team principal, Andrea Stella, was clear he expected there to be considerations of layout changes. \u201cIt\u2019s a shame it\u2019s so difficult. It just requires a large, large lap time difference to be able to overtake,\u201d he said. \u201cWhat F1, we\u2019d like to review, is there\u2019s some modifications required in order to introduce an overtaking possibility.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt the moment the straight may be long enough, but there\u2019s absolutely no way the two cars can enter the corner together. It\u2019s basically impossible to attempt overtaking.\u201d<\/p>\n

Antonelli has a lead of 81 points in the world championship over his teammate George Russell, with nine meetings remaining and the next round at Baku in two weeks.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Discussions are already under way to change the layout of Formula One\u2019s newest circuit after driver condemnation of…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":891694,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[573],"tags":[64,63,817,813,816,85],"class_list":["post-891693","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-formula-1","tag-au","tag-australia","tag-f1","tag-formula-1","tag-formula1","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/891693","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=891693"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/891693\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/891694"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=891693"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=891693"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=891693"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}