Detour #301: A Lap of the Madring, Spain’s New F1 Street Circuit
Photo Madring
Madrid is gearing up to host formula 1 with Racers taking to the streets of Spain’s capital from 2026. Here’s how to take a (slower) Lap.
The 2026 Spanish Grand Prix will see the world’s fastest drivers tackle the 5.4-km (3.36-mile) circuit, negotiating each of its 22 corners 57 times.
The start line is on Avenue del Partenón on the perimeter of the IFEMA Madrid events complex with a 250-metre sprint to the first turn. It’s actually a left-right chicane (at a roundabout) where, at full race speed, the drivers will need to slow from 200mph to around 60mph, making it a great overtaking spot. Turn three Curva de Hortaleza is barely a turn at all and will be taken flat out as leads the cars into Ribera del Sena in the most urban part of the track.
Turn four, on Via Dublin, is also taken flat and leads into another chicane at turns five and six, followed by a not-quite-straight climbing up towards Subida de las Carcavas through seven, to a tight right-left combo at turns eight and nine. Known as El Bunker it sits right next to the Spanish Civil War forts of La Mata Espesa.
Now the track moves away from the public road into a purpose-built section in the Valdebebas festival grounds. Ten is a right-hand kink, leading into a sweeping left at 11 and the long, banked hairpin at 12 - La Monumental. Another short straight leads to a 90-degree left with a big braking zone at 13. Turns 14 and 15 sweep right and left, through Las Enlazadas de Valdebebas, right by Real Madrid’s training complex.
It leads to another heavy stop during the left kink of 16 which goes into the near-90 right at 17. 18, Curva Norte, is a fast left back on the public road and cutting into the IFEMA complex, where 19 is a near mirror image going right. Turn 20 is a whopper of a stopper, almost doubling back on itself, then its the final two 90 rights, the last of which is named The Park, after the next door Juan Carlos I Park. Then it’s another dash to the line and the lap counter ticks over.
The park section of the track is still under construction and, even when complete, it will only be racers who can complete a full lap, but about half of it can be explored by car or bike right now. Alternatively you can watch the simulation below - or wait for 2026, of course!
ROADBOOK
CLASS: Street Circuit
NAME: MADRING
ROUTE: Start to finish
COUNTRY: Spain
Distance: 3.36 Miles
Madrid is gearing up to host formula 1 with Racers taking to the streets of Spain’s capital from 2026. Here’s how to take a (slower) Lap.