Ferrari etched its name into Formula 1 history on Thursday by becoming the first team to run an F1 car around the brand-new Madring circuit, offering an early glimpse of the venue that will host the Spanish Grand Prix from 2026.
With the countdown already underway to Formula 1's newest destination, the Scuderia was given the honor of breaking in the all-new layout as Charles Leclerc completed the circuit's maiden laps in Ferrari's SF-26 during a promotional filming day.
Lewis Hamilton also took to the track later in the session, giving Ferrari's driver pairing their first taste of a circuit that is set to become one of Formula 1's newest challenges.
Ferrari gets first look at Formula 1's newest battleground
Blending public roads with purpose-built racing sections, the 20-corner Madring will officially debut on the Formula 1 calendar next season, hosting the Spanish Grand Prix on the weekend of September 11-13.
Although Thursday's outing was conducted under Formula 1's standard filming day regulations – limiting mileage and requiring the use of promotional Pirelli tyres – it still represented a significant milestone in the circuit's development.
©Ferrari
Ferrari shared images and video clips across its social media channels showing Leclerc circulating the new venue, making the Scuderia the first team to put a contemporary Formula 1 car through its paces on Madrid's newest sporting landmark.
The running also allowed Ferrari's engineers and drivers to gather valuable initial impressions of the track's characteristics, even if outright performance data was restricted by the filming day format.
Ferrari's visit to Madrid came on the back of an encouraging British Grand Prix weekend, where Leclerc claimed victory and Hamilton added further momentum with a third-place finish.
Those results have strengthened Ferrari's growing belief that it can sustain its challenge throughout the 2026 campaign, making the team's first appearance at the Madring another symbolic moment in what is shaping up to be a pivotal season.
©Ferrari
While lap times were never the objective, history was. And Ferrari can now lay claim to another unique distinction: the first Formula 1 team to leave tyre marks on the future home of the Spanish Grand Prix.
Thursday marked the moment the Madring truly entered Formula 1 territory, with Ferrari becoming the first team to unleash one of the sport's cutting-edge machines on the streets and permanent sections that will soon host a world championship Grand Prix.
Read also: Vasseur keeping Ferrari grounded despite Silverstone triumph
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