Spanish F1 Grand Prix Preview

 

Toto Talks Spain

Monza was one of our strongest weekends of the season and a significant result for everyone at Brixworth and Brackley. The team executed very well, the drivers delivered, and we extracted the maximum from our package. We can be pleased with that but it is already behind us. Our focus switched to Madrid as soon as we left Italy.

This weekend presents a completely different challenge. The circuit characteristics are much closer to somewhere like Budapest or Zandvoort. We are therefore expecting a very close-fought weekend. Our task is to understand the demands of the track in Madrid as quickly as possible and maximise our performance from the first session onwards. New circuits create opportunities and unknowns in equal measure.

Madrid is a global destination city and racing there is another significant step forward for our sport. The fact that an iconic capital like Madrid wants to join the calendar shows the strength of our sport and the momentum we continue to build around the world.

Third Driver Insight

Madrid presents a completely different challenge compared to anything we've faced so far this season. As a brand-new circuit for F1, everyone starts from the same baseline, which always makes for an exciting weekend. It's a track that will take some getting used to, with a mix of more conventional corners alongside unique features such as La Monumental, a long, heavily banked corner that will be fascinating from both a driving and engineering perspective. Finding the right balance between performance, stability and tyre management through that section will be a key challenge.

Drivers always enjoy the opportunity to tackle a new circuit because it's a chance to make a real difference and gain an advantage before experience levels begin to converge. We've spent a lot of time preparing in the simulator and analysing the demands of the track, so we'll arrive ready for the challenge. 

Racing in the heart of Spain's capital will also be a fantastic experience for the sport, and I'm sure Madrid will put on an incredible show for the fans.

Did you know?

• F1 returns to Madrid for the first time in 45 years with the Spanish capital hosting its first Grand Prix since Jarama hosted the 1981 Spanish Grand Prix. 

• The new Madring circuit is making its F1 debut in 2026, becoming the first new venue to join the calendar since Las Vegas in 2023. 
• At 5.416 km and 22 corners, Madring combines public roads with purpose-built sections, creating a unique street circuit.
• One of the track's most distinctive features is "La Monumental", a banked corner with a 24% incline inspired by Madrid's historic bullrings and designed to become the circuit's signature image. 
• The 2026 event marks the start of a 10-year agreement between F1 and Madrid, securing the race's place on the calendar through at least 2035.