Sainz promises Madrid’s Madring will wow F1 drivers in 2026

Carlos Sainz is brimming with enthusiasm as he takes on the role of ambassador for the Madring, Spain’s future 5.47km hybrid F1 circuit that will host the Spanish Grand Prix from 2026.

Unveiled on Friday by organizers and local authorities, the track around Madrid’s IFEMA exhibition centre blends tight, wall-lined street sections with open, high-speed sweeps and a striking banked corner at Valdebebas.

As Madrid prepares to share the F1 spotlight with Barcelona in 2026 before likely becoming the sole host of the country’s premier sporting event, Sainz is reassuring his fellow drivers that the Madring will deliver a thrilling, character-filled experience, with his personal involvement ensuring it meets their exacting standards.

A Track with Character and Driver Input

Sainz says that he has been fielding questions from his F1 peers about the Madring’s layout and potential.

“The drivers have asked me about the circuit, the corners, the layout... I've told them not to worry, that I'm going to try to help as much as possible to make the circuit a good show,” he said.

For the Williams driver, a great circuit needs personality.

"What I ask of an F1 circuit as a driver is that it has charisma and character, that it has a lot of corners that make it different,” he explained.

“There are circuits like Baku, which has no major corners beyond the castle section, but it has character, because it's very long straights, there's a lot of overtaking, it's spectacular.

"There is Jeddah, which is all fast corners and also spectacular. They're all urban circuits, but they've managed to have character.

• Read also: Madrid unveils video sim of 2026 Spanish GP 'Madring' track

“And what I ask of Madring and what we are achieving is that it has that character between being a hybrid circuit, with an urban area with the walls very close and then that more open part, more like a traditional European circuit, which is what we drivers like the most.

"The final part, the banked corners and fast corner sequences... it's more what we like and what we see at the traditional European circuits. And this circuit has both, it has the open area and the more closed area of the walls."

Aiming to Outshine Global Giants

Sainz envisions the Madring, strategically located near Barajas airport, as more than just a track – it’s a potential crown jewel of the F1 calendar.

“Everything that will be around it, all the concerts and all the activations will help the city a lot,” he argued.

“I think we can have the best circuit in the world and the best event of the whole calendar.

“There are going to be 24 races, and Mexico, Miami and Las Vegas are doing very well, but I sincerely believe that Madrid can beat them, and we are going to go for it.”

With Sainz steering the project’s driver-focused vision, the Madring is poised to become a standout spectacle in 2026.

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