Formula 1 has officially signed a ten-year contract to bring a grand prix to Madrid. Organizers are investing millions to build a new circuit featuring a 26-degree banked corner near the city’s airport, aiming to tap into the vibrant capital’s momentum and strong public transport network.
Formula 1 is officially heading to Madrid under a 10-year contract set to begin. The ambitious project aims to blend elite motorsport with extensive local entertainment.
How the Madrid Grand Prix Project Began
The concept of an F1 race in the Spanish capital initially seemed far-fetched to those involved in bringing it to life. Organizers ultimately selected an expo area run by the quasi-state-owned Ifema organization, situated next to the city’s airport, rather than attempting to squeeze a track into the flat, block-layout inner city.
“It started as a joke, it was a fantasy, an F1 grand prix is like a unicorn – you are trying always to see the unicorn but at the end you realise [sometimes] it’s impossible.”
Luis Garcia Abad, Madring boss and former manager to Fernando Alonso
Discussions began roughly seven or eight years ago, but momentum accelerated after Ifema contacted Luis Garcia Abad to evaluate viability. Following an initial morning inspection, organizers concluded the undertaking was entirely feasible, ultimately securing a contract for 10 years.
Engineering Challenges and Track Construction in Madrid
Building the new facility proved to be a formidable test for operations director Carlos Jimenez and his engineering teams. Construction kicked off during what proved to be the wettest winter in 20 years in Spain, marked by torrential rain that complicated efforts to stabilize problematic clay soil conditions.
“There were a lot of challenges, we started building it in the wettest winter in 20 years in Spain. The rain was torrential. We suffered a lot, and had to stabilise parts of clay which behaves badly with wet conditions.”
Carlos Jimenez, operations director for Ifema
The resulting track features three distinct layers of asphalt, engineered by learning valuable lessons from one layer to the next. Financial commitments for the development total 65m euros of investment in additional construction alongside the track itself cost 85m euros alone.
Monumental: The 26-Degree Banked Turn Everyone Is Discussing
The circuit’s standout architectural feature is a 26-degree banked challenge known as Monumental. Designed to be substantially longer than the famous banked corner at the Dutch Grand Prix in Zandvoort, the corner scythes through what will resemble a small town on race day.
Perched atop the hill like a castle sits a massive VIP viewing area designed to house the King of Spain and his family, overlooking a corner crafted to give the circuit an unmistakable identity. Organizers intend for more than 30,000 people to gather around one corner.
Transportation Strategy and Entertainment Offerings
Because Madrid boasts high-quality public transport despite its relatively diminutive size compared to other capitals, organizers are cutting out many of the car parks and encouraging fans to leave personal vehicles at home. High-profile celebrity attendees will enjoy expansive VIP paddock spaces near the venue.
Beyond the racing action, organizers are modeling the event’s atmosphere after a ski resort’s après-ski culture, pairing the on-track competition with extensive after-race entertainment, local gastronomy, and a mild September climate.
