Overview
- The new 5.416 km temporary MadRing opened for the race weekend on Friday, staging the Spanish Grand Prix on a 22‑turn layout built between IFEMA and Valdebebas with a multi‑year commitment.
- Organisers have prepared for up to 200,000 spectators with large grandstands concentrated around a 550 m, 24%‑banked signature bend called the 'Monumental', while on-site build and supporting infrastructure remain a work in progress.
- Brembo engineers rate the track 4 out of 5 for braking difficulty, noting eight significant braking events per lap that total about 14.2 seconds and include a 294-to-137 km/h slowdown that produces roughly 4.3 g deceleration.
- Teams arrive with only simulator data and a limited July filming day of experience, so Friday practice sessions will be crucial for learning the circuit, choosing setups and managing rapid tyre evolution on brand‑new asphalt.
- Organisers emphasise public transport links to limit road traffic and the venue’s proximity to the airport, and the event’s success over the weekend could influence how temporary city circuits are staged in Europe going forward.