Antonelli Leads Practice on New Madring Track as F1’s Spanish GP Returns to Madrid – WTOP News
Kimi Antonelli led Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton as Racing Bulls rookie Arvid Lindblad’s crash caused the circuit’s first Formula 1 red flag.
- Red Bull driver Max Verstappen finished sixth in Friday practice at Madrid's new Madring circuit, four-tenths behind championship leader Kimi Antonelli, predicting overtaking would be nearly impossible at the Spanish Grand Prix.
- A Formula 3 test in August produced 19 red flags, raising alarms about the circuit's design. The Madring combines high-speed corners with unforgiving walls and the 24-degree banked Turn 12 La Monumental, making overtaking extremely difficult.
- Verstappen stated "I'm not a fan of street circuits" while praising construction, yet warned "even best-case scenario and you're faster, you can't pass." Williams driver Alex Albon raised concerns about Turn 5-6 chicane and combined braking zones.
- Racing Bulls rookie Arvid Lindblad crashed at Turn 13 in second practice, red-flagging the session with 25 minutes remaining. McLaren's Lando Norris completed only two laps before requiring a gearbox change, prompting technical director Mark Temple to call it "a big setback."
- Madring managing director Luis Garcia Abad told Motorsport.com the FIA has identified improvements for 2027, promising "We have the space, we have a venue, we have the facilities, we have the capacity to do it." Verstappen called for greater driver input in circuit design.
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262 Articles
The organizers have collected the glove of pilots and teams, who have asked for a route that in race offers more options of advancement.
The organizers of the Formula 1 Spanish Grand Prix are prepared to modify the new Madring circuit in Madrid to provide better overtaking opportunities. They are responding to criticism from the drivers.
Winnipeg Free Press
AP interview: Madring track creator says changes by new designers affected overtaking at Spanish GP
MADRID (AP) — The original designer of the widely criticized Madring circuit has blamed small changes made after his company was removed from the project for the lack of overtaking during this weekend’s lackluster Spanish Grand Prix. He also said there is “not much” that can be done on the layout going forward.
The organizers admitted that they would have to work with the FIA to improve the track.
The driver Max Verstappen did not say in X that the Madrid circuit is the “worst of history” of Formula 1.
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