Madring
Madrid, Spain
Madring is a new hybrid circuit for the 2026 season, combining permanent track sections with public roads around the IFEMA exhibition centre in Madrid. Its layout blends fast straights with a technical infield reminiscent of a purpose-built track rather than a pure street circuit. As the venue has not yet hosted a race, its on-track characteristics remain largely theoretical ahead of its debut. TBD — inaugural race in 2026, so lap record and detailed race history are not yet available.
Length
5.474 km
Turns
22
Race Laps
57
Elevation
—
First GP
2026
Lap Record
TBD
Location
Nearest Town
The circuit is located on the northeastern edge of Madrid, Spain's capital and largest city, near the IFEMA convention centre. Madrid is one of Europe's major cultural capitals, known for its museums, plazas, and vibrant street life. The new circuit brings Formula 1 back to mainland Spain's capital for the first time in the sport's history.
Getting There
Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport is only a short drive from the circuit, likely around 15-20 minutes given its proximity to the IFEMA grounds. Madrid's metro network already serves the IFEMA area directly, making transit access expected to be straightforward once the venue opens.
Circuit History & Trivia
Notable Incidents
As Madring has not yet hosted a race, there is no incident history to draw on; its safety story instead lies in the features engineered into the circuit before a wheel has turned in anger. The design incorporates tunnel sections running beneath an elevated motorway, requiring careful engineering for run-off, lighting, and emergency access in an enclosed environment. 'La Monumental,' a banked corner with 24-degree banking, was designed with safety and spectacle in mind, an unusual feature for a modern street-adjacent circuit. The venue also includes the first covered paddock in Formula One, a design choice partly aimed at protecting personnel and equipment rather than a pure performance consideration.
Design History
The Madring concept originated in 2014 as an independent proposal for a Madrid street circuit, gaining real momentum once Isabel Díaz Ayuso, president of the Community of Madrid, prioritized returning Grand Prix racing to the capital. Formula One officially confirmed in January 2024 that the Spanish Grand Prix would relocate from Barcelona to Madrid from 2026 under a contract running through 2035. Architect Jarno Zaffelli designed the 5.416 km, 22-corner hybrid layout, built around the IFEMA exhibition centre in Barajas near Madrid-Barajas Airport, blending permanent track sections with adjoining public roads. Contractors Acciona and Eiffage were engaged to build the facility for approximately €83.2 million.
Records & Notable Races
Madring has no race history yet, since its Formula One debut is scheduled for 2026, so there are no lap records, wins, or standout performances to report. Madrid last hosted a round of the World Championship at the Circuito del Jarama back in 1981, meaning Madring effectively ends a 45-year gap in the capital's Grand Prix history rather than extending an existing local racing legacy. Anticipated characteristics include four dedicated overtaking zones and long straights paired with heavy braking areas, features specifically designed to address the overtaking difficulties that had become a persistent criticism of Barcelona's Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, which Madring replaces on the calendar.
Fun Facts
The name 'Madring,' unveiled in March 2025, is a portmanteau of Madrid and 'ring,' deliberately echoing the naming convention of storied European circuits like the Nürburgring and Hungaroring. Madrid's bid reportedly offered Formula One nearly double what Barcelona had been paying, around €48 million annually compared to €26 million, along with the practical advantages of proximity to the city center and direct Madrid Metro access just eight minutes from Barajas Airport via Line 8. The venue's initial capacity of 110,000 can be expanded to 140,000, and the circuit's location around a major exhibition and convention centre rather than historic city streets makes it one of the more unusual venue concepts added to the calendar in recent years.