Sainz samples new Madring: ‘You’ve created quite a cocktail’

Carlos Sainz became the first Formula 1 driver to complete a lap of the Madring, Madrid’s new hybrid street-and-purpose-built circuit, calling it a thrilling cocktail of speed, banking, and blind corners.

Driving a 450bhp Ford Mustang GT on fresh asphalt around the 5.4km layout, the Williams driver immediately identified key overtaking zones and a character shift that he believes will showcase modern F1 machinery at its best.

Why it matters

Madrid secured a 10-year deal to host the Spanish Grand Prix from 2026, with Barcelona remaining on a rotational basis. Sainz’s early verdict suggests the circuit is far from a conservative addition — it aims to become one of the calendar’s most challenging and spectacular venues.

The details

• Overtaking hotspot: The Turn 1-2 chicane and the long acceleration into Turn 5-6 will reward strategic battery deployment and aggressive passing.
• Purpose-built section: From Turn 9 onward, the track transitions into sweeping, high-speed corners designed to let F1 cars stretch their legs. Sainz called this “where we’ll enjoy a Formula 1 car at its absolute best.”
• Signature moment: “La Monumental” — a 24% banked, blind entry at Turn 12. Sainz predicted drivers will take it flat out, though may lift slightly to regain front grip. “You’ve created quite a cocktail,” he said.
• Fast-flowing esses: The Valdebebas section drew comparisons to Spa and Silverstone curves.
• Tricky finale: The final sector tightens under a motorway, with a 117-degree left-hander at Turn 20 that Sainz warned could catch drivers off guard.

What’s next

Madrid will host F1 from 2026 to 2035, while Barcelona retains a separate rotational agreement. With construction still ongoing, Sainz’s first impressions confirm the Madring is designed to arrive with a bang — not a whimper.