Daily News 19

Tag: Madring circuit

  • Mercedes thought it had pole position until Lando Norris took it

    Mercedes thought it had pole position until Lando Norris took it

    Mercedes Formula 1 team principal Toto Wolff briefly believed rookie Kimi Antonelli had secured pole position for the Spanish Grand Prix – until Lando Norris snatched it away in the closing moments of qualifying at the new Madring circuit.

    Antonelli’s Strong Run Fallen Short

    Antonelli markedly improved on his initial Q3 benchmark of 1m32.140s with a blistering 1m31.835s on his second flying lap, outpacing all rivals by at least 0.178 seconds. All, that is, except one. Norris, whose first effort sat at 1m32.525s, vaulted to pole position with a 1m31.824s – a margin of just 0.011s – despite what McLaren team principal Andrea Stella described as a three-tenth loss in the final corner.

    Wolff Sees the Positive in P2

    Wolff admitted he didn’t see the McLaren surge coming but preferred to frame the result as a gain rather than a loss.

    “It’s gained, looking at it that way,” Wolff told Austrian broadcaster ORF. “Before the weekend, I never believed we’d be at the front on this track layout.

    “When Lewis crossed the line, it seemed clear we were winning this. And then Lando puts in a lap like that under conditions that suddenly got so hot, where he is so good at managing rear overheating. It’s flawless.”

    McLaren had been slower than Mercedes in every practice session and qualifying segment prior to Q3, making the sudden performance swing a surprise to the Mercedes camp.

    “That surprised us, too,” he said. “But Lando has shown in the past that he can occasionally pull out a lap like that. Especially when it comes to getting a handle on rear axle overheating as best as possible. And in that regard, I think he’s in a league of his own.”

    Race Strategy Focused on Championship Battle

    Asked how he expected Sunday’s race to unfold, Wolff pointed directly to the drivers’ championship fight. Lewis Hamilton, identified as Mercedes’ main title rival, currently trails Antonelli by 76 points, while George Russell holds a slender 10-point advantage over his former teammate.

    “The most important thing is that we don’t crash into anything; that wouldn’t be good for the cost cap,” he pointed out. “And not losing points to Lewis and Ferrari. I think here you have to score, drive home, hopefully end up on the podium, hopefully ahead of Lewis. Then we’ve reached our goals.”

  • Former McLaren F1 Junior Ugo Ugochukwu Wins Formula 3 Championship

    Former McLaren F1 Junior Ugo Ugochukwu Wins Formula 3 Championship

    Ugo Ugochukwu secured the 2026 FIA Formula 3 Championship at the Madring circuit on Sunday, completing a remarkable turnaround for the Campos Racing driver who entered the season finale as a relative dark horse in the title fight.

    Season-Long Battle Culminates in Madrid

    The championship contest narrowed to a two-driver duel over the summer months. Ugochukwu and Trident’s Freddie Slater emerged as the primary protagonists through consistency in feature races. Across the first seven rounds before the summer break, Slater claimed six feature race podiums while Ugochukwu collected five; no other driver managed more than two Sunday top-three finishes.

    Slater, spearheading Audi’s new Driver Development Programme, arrived at the Monza round with a strong opportunity to build a near-decisive lead over the understated Ugochukwu. However, after finishing second in the sprint race, the British driver dropped from pole position in the feature race and eventually retired with a technical issue. That setback meant Slater took only a 15-point advantage into the final round at Madring, which featured an unusual three-race format to compensate for the cancelled Bahrain opener due to the Iran war.

    Qualifying Disparity Decides Title Trajectory

    The championship pendulum swung dramatically in qualifying. Slater qualified 17th and eighth across the two sessions, while Ugochukwu delivered fourth and second. That grid disparity proved decisive. Ugochukwu scored with eighth place in the sprint and fourth in the first feature race, while Slater failed to add to his tally, setting up a winner-takes-all final race on Sunday.

    Clinical Drive Seals Crown for Ugochukwu

    In the decisive encounter, the Campos driver produced a mature performance, running comfortably in second place behind Tuukka Taponen without mounting a serious challenge for the lead or facing significant pressure from behind. Meanwhile, Slater lost a position to Yevan David at the start but recovered eighth by passing the Sri Lankan driver around the outside of Turn 1 on lap five — a result insufficient to deny Ugochukwu the title.

    “It felt like a much longer race than usual,” the American said. “It was quite difficult with the dirty air to overtake Tuukka. I tried my best a few laps, but I saw I couldn’t get quite close enough. We knew that P2 would clinch the title, so just had to ultimately bring it home.

    “Every single kerb felt louder than usual, I started hearing weird sounds, but I just had to keep it clean until the end. Once I crossed the finish line, I could relax. Just really relieved.”

    Redemption After McLaren Departure

    This championship carries particular significance for Ugochukwu, who previously defeated Slater for the Formula Regional European title over the winter. The 19-year-old American left the McLaren junior programme at the end of 2025 after a difficult rookie F3 season that yielded only 16th place in the standings.

    “I don’t really know what to feel,” he said. “It feels really good. The work we put in throughout the entire season finally paid off. It’s been an amazing campaign, and I just want to thank my team, Campos. We worked really well together all year, and to finish off like this is the best possible way. Clinching the teams’ championship yesterday and now the drivers’ one as well is pretty much a perfect season.”

    “[It’s] super special. We had our goals set out at the beginning of the year, and today we have achieved them. It’s been super good,” he added.

    “I think this weekend was the one which really mattered the most. We were super clinical, no mistakes made the whole weekend, and we just delivered when we had to and picked up the points. Perfect way to end the season.”

    Slater Earns Rookie Honours in Strong Debut Campaign

    Despite falling short in the title decider, Slater’s consistency throughout the season earned him recognition as Formula 3’s top rookie for 2026. The Trident driver’s six feature race podiums before the summer break underlined his pace, and his Audi-backed programme positions him strongly for future progression.

    With both drivers’ and teams’ titles secured, Campos Racing completes a dominant season, while Ugochukwu’s journey from McLaren release to F3 champion stands as one of the category’s most compelling redemption narratives.

  • F1 Cannot Continue This Way

    F1 Cannot Continue This Way

    Fernando Alonso has issued a stark warning that Formula 1 “cannot continue this way” after expressing frustration that the current generation of cars fails to do justice to the challenging new Madring circuit, the venue for the Spanish Grand Prix.

    Alonso Praises Madring Layout but Criticizes Car Limitations

    The Aston Martin driver was full of praise for the demanding 5.4km Madrid layout, which features several high-speed, high-commitment corners with minimal margin for error. However, he argued the track’s character is wasted on machinery overly reliant on battery management rather than driver skill.

    “It is sad, in a way, with this generation of cars to come to a very nice circuit like this one, with challenges here and there, like La Monumental corner, Turn 12,” the two-time world champion said. “It cannot be that Michael [Alonso’s PR] is faster than Max Verstappen if he has more battery, because Turn 12 is such an incredible corner that Max Verstappen has to be making the difference compared to Michael, and at the moment we can’t.

    “But Formula 1 or motorsport in general should be that in Turn 12, if Michael is braver than me, he goes faster. If I have more attributes, I will go faster than him, that’s how we should be qualifying. Now it’s just [depending on] how much [battery charge] I have, I will go faster or slower.”

    Push for Earlier V8 Return and Honda Support

    While F1 is gradually shifting toward a 60-40 combustion-to-electric power split for the 2027 regulations, Alonso is advocating for an accelerated return to V8 engines before the next planned rules cycle in 2031. The Spaniard has also held discussions with FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem regarding additional support for Honda, Aston Martin’s power unit supplier, which is currently struggling with performance.

    Honda has already received concessions under the ADUO catch-up system for underperforming manufacturers, though the mechanism is widely viewed as imperfect and slated for further adjustment.

    “I did speak with him but I speak with Stefano [Domenicali, F1 boss] regularly every week, because Formula 1 cannot continue in this way,” Alonso lamented. “We cannot wait for 2031 to have a proper sport, so I think it’s also my responsibility to help them with my experience, to make whatever we can do.”

    Contract Future Remains Open

    Alonso’s outspoken stance comes amid ongoing public speculation regarding his racing future. The 45-year-old veteran is widely expected to extend his stay with Aston Martin through the 2027 regulation change.

  • Max Verstappen on Fixing Madrid’s New F1 Circuit: “If they give me the track map…”

    Max Verstappen on Fixing Madrid’s New F1 Circuit: “If they give me the track map…”

    Formula 1 drivers have voiced significant concerns about the new Madring circuit layout following qualifying for the Spanish Grand Prix in Madrid. While support series races at the IFEMA complex have seen multiple incidents, the premier class has avoided major chaos so far. However, the consensus suggests Sunday’s race could present substantial overtaking challenges.

    Verstappen Criticizes Track Design and Overtaking Prospects

    Reigning champion Max Verstappen was blunt in his assessment during the post-qualifying press conference.

    “I still need to figure out a corner where to pass,” Max Verstappen said straight away at the start of the press conference.

    Verstappen acknowledged the quality of the new asphalt but highlighted fundamental design flaws.

    “They did a good job with the tarmac, even though in some places it’s already a bit too bumpy for a new track. But the corners, like I said before, you can’t overtake.
    “For the braking zones, they need to learn that it should never be that you have to steer and combine that under braking. It doesn’t allow any kind of overtaking. So, in terms of track design, I think it can be better. I also think that input from the drivers on track designs can help a lot in the future.”

    Braking Zones Identified as Primary Defect

    Speaking to Dutch media in the paddock while watching the Formula 3 sprint race start, Verstappen reinforced his view that the circuit layout discourages racing.

    “Well, now we can stop watching, now everyone is just following each other,”

    he remarked, referencing the lack of passing opportunities. The Red Bull driver explained that the braking zone geometry eliminates the possibility of out-braking an opponent.

    “Then there is only one line and that makes it very easy to defend as well,”

    Verstappen clarified when asked by Motorsport.com about the braking zones.

    Asked what changes would improve the racing, the four-time world champion offered a candid response.

    “Almost all the braking zones! If you give me the track map, I’ll sort it out.”

    On a more constructive note, Verstappen expressed willingness to collaborate with the FIA and circuit designers.

    “They can always ask me, ‘What do you think of this layout?’ I don’t want to go into details now, because you have different track designers, but sometimes I do talk to someone about certain opinions and circuits. Ultimately, a driver knows very well what is needed or what a good corner should look like.”
    “There are also some good examples, like Austin. You can race well there. Certain corners are nice and wide. At least you can make a move there, and even if it doesn’t work straight away, you can still fight on the corner exit. There are enough examples of how to do it properly.”

    Drivers Excluded from Pre-Construction Consultation

    Verstappen revealed that driver input was not sought before the Madring was built, a recurring issue with new venues.

    “In Jeddah, we were able to change a few things, but you should really do that beforehand, before the track is built.”

    Excessive Pitlane Length Compounds Strategic Limitations

    Beyond the racing line, the pitlane configuration has drawn unified criticism. The lane is effectively bisected by an IFEMA exhibition hall, creating an unusually long transit time. Lando Norris raised the issue during the press conference, and Verstappen concurred.

    “Yeah, we’ve already talked about that with the FIA and they understood our point as well. It’s not convenient, it hasn’t been thought through logically,”

    Verstappen said.

    This design quirk carries strategic weight. High tyre degradation observed during practice and qualifying would typically encourage multiple stops, but the punishing pitlane delta combined with the premium on track position will likely push teams toward one-stop strategies on race day.

    2026 Power Unit Characteristics Frustrate Qualifying Approach

    Verstappen also pointed to the upcoming 2026 regulations as a factor diminishing the qualifying spectacle. Energy management requirements forced compromises on several corners, including the banked turn and the Turn 18-19 sequence.

    “Considering the circumstances and what these cars are like, this qualifying was reasonably OK. It’s just that I want to take that banked corner flat-out, but if I do that, then I lose more time on the straight afterwards.
    “That means you have to come off the throttle, wait a little bit to charge the battery and then you have more top speed later. All those kinds of things. The same in Turns 18 and 19. You have to lift there as well, because if you stay flat-out, then you don’t have any battery left afterwards.”

    Cautious Optimism for Future Iterations

    Despite the litany of issues, Verstappen sees potential for the venue if modifications are made.

    “If they can maybe change the circuit in a few places, then definitely. Look, I’m never really a fan of street circuits, but there are worse ones on the calendar.”

  • Norris Beats Antonelli to Spanish Grand Prix Pole in Close Madrid Qualifying

    Norris Beats Antonelli to Spanish Grand Prix Pole in Close Madrid Qualifying

    Norris Claims Pole for Inaugural Spanish Grand Prix at Madring in Dramatic Finish

    Lando Norris delivered a spectacular final lap to secure pole position for the first-ever Formula 1 Spanish Grand Prix at the Madring circuit, edging out Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli and reigning World Champion Max Verstappen in a thrilling Q3 shootout. The McLaren driver stopped the clock at 1m 31.824s to claim the 19th pole of his career, displacing Lewis Hamilton who had set the provisional benchmark on the opening runs.

    Q3: Norris Strikes Late to Deny Hamilton and Antonelli

    The final segment began with high anticipation after a weekend heavily disrupted by red flags. Antonelli set the early pace before Hamilton responded with a blistering 1m 32.079s to bounce back emphatically from his FP3 crash. With the first runs complete, Hamilton led Antonelli, Verstappen, Charles Leclerc, and the two McLarens of Norris and Oscar Piastri.

    On the decisive final attempts, Antonelli improved to retake P1, but Hamilton could not find further time. Norris then produced a lap he later described as “one of my best”, crossing the line just 0.011s clear of the Italian. Verstappen also extracted a late gain to lock out the front row in third, ahead of Hamilton, Leclerc, and George Russell in sixth. Piastri settled for seventh, with Liam Lawson, Franco Colapinto, and rookie Arvid Lindblad rounding out the top ten.

    Key Quote: Norris on His Pole Lap

    “I’m shocked, I’m a little bit surprised to be here now, but my god it was probably one of the best laps I’ve done ever in my career,” Norris said. “Very, very happy, very proud, very happy for the team. It was just one of those laps where everything came together. I had a good idea of what I wanted to do, but it was whether my brain let me do it on the last lap and everything pretty much worked perfectly. I’m just very happy – one of those laps where you look at the lap time at the end and you’re like, ‘Oh, s*** that was pretty good’.”

    Q2: Audi Miss Out as Verstappen Leads the Way

    After a brief reset, the 16 remaining drivers returned for Q2. Antonelli again set the initial reference (1m 32.603s), but Verstappen immediately undercut him by 0.046s to signal Red Bull’s intent. Lawson kept the sister car in the mix in fourth.

    A late flurry saw Colapinto climb to seventh, but both Audis fell short. Nico Hulkenberg qualified 11th ahead of teammate Gabriel Bortoleto. Esteban Ocon, Pierre Gasly (who complained of a lack of grip), Yuki Tsunoda, and Alex Albon also failed to progress. Lindblad and Piastri squeezed into Q3 with identical lap times, while Verstappen held onto the provisional pole position heading into the final session.

    Knocked out (Q2): Hulkenberg, Bortoleto, Ocon, Gasly, Tsunoda, Albon.

    Q1: Home Heartbreak for Sainz and Alonso

    Qualifying began with 18 cars after Ollie Bearman’s Haas was deemed unrepairable following his FP3 crash, while Lance Stroll sat out with a suspected water pressure issue on his Aston Martin. Antonelli topped the early timesheets on softs (1m 33.566s), with Verstappen close behind on mediums.

    Audi continued their strong weekend form as Bortoleto ran third early on. Lawson eventually set the Q1 benchmark, while Russell survived a brush with the barriers—mirroring Albon’s FP3 incident—to advance comfortably. In the closing minutes, both Spanish drivers fell victim to the tight circuit and traffic. Carlos Sainz and Fernando Alonso were eliminated in Q1 to the dismay of the home crowd. Sainz was also noted by the stewards for allegedly impeding Valtteri Bottas in the Cadillac.

    Sergio Perez and Bottas filled the next positions, ahead of the absent Bearman and Stroll.

    Knocked out (Q1): Sainz, Alonso, Perez, Bottas, Bearman, Stroll.

    What’s Next

    The 2026 Spanish Grand Prix is scheduled to start at 15:00 local time on Sunday. The Madring layout has proven treacherous all weekend, promising a demanding race where track position will be at a premium.

  • F1 Teams Detail Madring Circuit Learnings from First Day of Running Ahead of Spanish Grand Prix

    F1 Teams Detail Madring Circuit Learnings from First Day of Running Ahead of Spanish Grand Prix

    Formula 1 drivers and teams finally experienced the Madring circuit during Friday practice, and the new Madrid venue proved every bit as demanding as predicted. While simulations provided a baseline, the session revealed significant unknowns regarding car setup, power unit deployment, and, most critically, tyre management. Tyre graining emerged as the dominant talking point early in the first session.

    Drivers Praise Layout but Highlight Precision Required

    Overall driver feedback on the new circuit was positive, with many noting its unique blend of high-speed sections and tight, wall-lined corners.

    Pierre Gasly, who finished the day 11th, described the track as exhilarating: “I actually really loved it. It was very exciting. It’s a track with a lot of adrenaline. At all the corners you kind of see the walls coming at you very quickly, and you’ve got to be extremely precise in your lines, how much you commit to the corner. It definitely has this type of like adrenaline element, which you don’t always find, but usually find on a street track. So, pretty cool. A lot of high-speed, which is unusual for a street track, and it’s kind of a mix between like Jeddah and Monaco all combined together. Always exciting to find a new track, and definitely very exciting driving-wise. Now, hopefully, in the race, we can still find opportunities to overtake.”

    Oscar Piastri, seventh in FP2, emphasized the difficulty: “I would say honestly it’s more difficult than some tracks. There’s a lot of sections where you’re not really brushing up against the walls, you’re kind of turning or heading at them, and then you need to avoid them. So it makes things quite challenging. Definitely I think everyone is still getting up to speed. But when you get into a decent rhythm over one lap, it’s pretty enjoyable. In race running, it’s been a nightmare to try and manage the tyres with graining. So a lot of corners have been very difficult. It’s been an interesting day. I think we are struggling a little bit for pace. But yeah, hopefully we can find a bit more tomorrow.”

    Tyre Graining Forces Strategy Rethink

    Teams had anticipated graining on the fresh tarmac, but the severity in FP1 came as a shock, prompting immediate setup adjustments for the second session.

    George Russell explained the scale of the issue: “We thought it was a possibility. It’s often a possibility on new tarmacs. The grip is very high, but you’re sliding quite aggressively. With the deg we had in FP1, a six-stop race would have been the fastest way! FP2 was slightly better, and I’m sure the race on Sunday will be better again. But that’s the biggest question mark.”

    The tyre situation influenced run plans significantly. Most teams opted to save two sets of the C2 hard compound for the race, with only Audi utilizing them during Friday running, signalling that the hardest tyre will play a crucial strategic role on Sunday.

    Setup Compromises Define Friday Workload

    The circuit’s diverse corner profile — mixing high-speed sweeps with heavy braking zones and kerb-heavy chicanes — forced engineers to search for a delicate setup balance.

    Ferrari Strong Out of the Box, Eyes on Qualifying

    Ferrari appeared competitive from the outset of FP1, though Team Principal Fred Vasseur downplayed Friday pace in favour of qualifying readiness: “I think the good setup is the setup that will work in in quali, not in free practice. We know that we’ll have a huge track evolution even during the session. The most important is to anticipate the grip in Q3, and to be ready for Q3. It makes no sense to do the best in free practice, and not in quali. It’s a challenge that you have approximately all the types of corners of the season, and it’s a good exercise for the engineers. But at the end, it’s also difficult to estimate what will be the grip evolution between FP3 and quali, and even during quali. It means that energy deployment is complicated with the high-speed section, and I think what will be key is to estimate the pace in Q3.”

    Charles Leclerc ended FP2 in second place, underscoring the SF-24’s early promise.

    Red Bull and Audi Grapple with Ride and Energy Deployment

    Red Bull drivers Max Verstappen and Liam Lawson were less satisfied with their Friday progress. Technical Director Pierre Wache echoed the sentiment that Friday dissatisfaction is preferable if it leads to qualifying solutions: “I think it’s better to not be happy during Friday! And there’s a lot of work to do on car setup, for sure. Mechanical grip, I think the ride is more challenging than what we thought. It’s not as smooth. On energy deployment, it’s clear that we have a lot of work to do there also. And the tyres grained maybe as expected – I think in FP2 we were a little bit better than FP1, and I think we have to continue in this route.”

    Wache elaborated on the competing demands: “I think compromising between corner and deployment, some corners are full throttle, and putting some sliding on the tyres. That’s something we have to see. But yeah, it is a challenging one.”

    The kerb-riding requirement adds another layer of complexity. Audi Sporting Director Inaki Rueda highlighted the fundamental aerodynamic trade-off: “It very difficult. So the main set-up trade that we have here is between running low and stiff for aero, because you have lots of high-speed corners. And usually these cars, the more stiff and low you get the aero platform, the better it is. But you have the trade-off of jumping the kerbs, like jumping the kerb in Turn 2. It’s a lot of lap time. We cannot not jump it, and of course for that you want a higher car, and more of a rolling car. And so that is where the trade-off is, and the answer is going to be difficult.”

  • 2026 Spanish Grand Prix FP2: Kimi Antonelli Tops Timesheets Ahead of Charles Leclerc

    2026 Spanish Grand Prix FP2: Kimi Antonelli Tops Timesheets Ahead of Charles Leclerc

    Kimi Antonelli Tops Spanish GP FP2 as Ferrari Duo Chase at Madring

    Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli ended Friday’s running at the Spanish Grand Prix as the fastest driver on track, heading a Ferrari duo of Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton in the second hour of practice at the Madring circuit.

    Antonelli Sets Unbeatable Benchmark

    The Italian posted a session-best time of 1m 33.662s before the session was halted to recover Arvid Lindblad‘s damaged Racing Bulls car. No driver managed to improve on Antonelli’s lap in the closing minutes, giving him an advantage of just over a tenth of a second over Leclerc in second place.

    With a limited amount of time to learn the new Madrid circuit, all 22 drivers were eager to maximize Free Practice 2 and begin pushing the limits—ideally while avoiding the daunting walls that line the Madring layout.

    Alonso Misses Early Running With Clutch Issue

    Unfortunately for Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin confirmed the home favorite would miss the beginning of the session due to a clutch issue suffered following his practice starts in FP1.

    Haas pair Esteban Ocon and Ollie Bearman were the first to head out in the high temperatures, leading a long queue of competitors before George Russell—who topped the times in FP1—set an early benchmark of 1m 36.011s.

    Ferrari Strong on Mediums as Track Evolves

    Russell was soon demoted down the timesheets as Ferrari continued their impressive showing on the medium tyres. Leclerc claimed the top spot until the standings leader completed his first effort to go over a second clear.

    As expected on a track with a freshly laid surface, the evolution was notable. Leclerc closed the gap to just 0.001s, ensuring that Mercedes and Ferrari drivers occupied P1 through P4 in the opening 15 minutes.

    Despite his impressive lap, Ferrari were struggling in the final sector, where they were significantly down on the likes of Antonelli. They weren’t the only ones facing issues—McLaren opted to change Lando Norris‘ gearbox, restricting him to the garage, while Oscar Piastri complained about a lack of rear grip.

    Lindblad Impresses Before Turn 13 Crash

    Although Piastri managed to improve on the soft compound, his lap was eclipsed by Lindblad. The Racing Bulls driver consistently impressed through the first sector to wind up just two tenths off Antonelli’s fastest time.

    But the lack of incidents couldn’t last forever. Coming into Turn 13, Lindblad lost the rear and crashed into the barriers, bringing an early end to his day at the Madring and triggering a red flag period.

    Final Classification After Red Flag

    Once the subsequent red flag period concluded, Antonelli remained P1 thanks to his earlier rapid time, leaving him ahead of Leclerc and Hamilton on the timesheets. Lindblad similarly held onto P4 ahead of Russell, Max Verstappen, and Piastri.

    Yuki Tsunoda was eighth for Racing Bulls, followed by Haas’ Ocon and Red Bull’s Liam Lawson. Pierre Gasly claimed P11, the Frenchman leading the Audi pair of Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto, Bearman, Franco Colapinto, and home favorite Carlos Sainz.

    Despite his shorter running, Alonso took P17 while Alex Albon, Sergio Perez, Lance Stroll and Valtteri Bottas completed the order, with Norris unable to set a representative time for McLaren.

    Saturday Running Ahead

    With the first day of action in Madrid complete, the teams and drivers will have the chance to delve into their learnings overnight before the final hour of practice takes place at 12:30 local time on Saturday, September 12.

  • ‘He’s brought Formula 1 back home’ – Carlos Sainz becomes heart of Spanish Grand Prix in Madrid

    ‘He’s brought Formula 1 back home’ – Carlos Sainz becomes heart of Spanish Grand Prix in Madrid

    Formula 1 Returns to Madrid After Four Decades

    Formula 1 returns to Madrid for the first time in over four decades, with the Madring circuit hosting the Spanish Grand Prix. The weekend carries particular weight for Carlos Sainz, the Williams driver who calls the Spanish capital home and serves as an ambassador for the event. For the legions of fans who have followed his career, this is more than a race; it is a homecoming.

    Madrid is a vibrant capital renowned for its music, food, and art, yet for years it lacked the roar of a Formula 1 weekend. That void ends now. Sainz, born and raised in the city, grew up dreaming of exactly this scenario—a home race in the place where he first climbed into a kart at 10 years old.

    “When I think about Madrid, I think about my first karting races,” Sainz says. “That’s where it all started, where I started dreaming about being an F1 driver.
    “Now I get to race in my home town and be the ambassador of the Grand Prix – it’s a privilege, and it’s also a chance to open the door for people from all over the world to discover Madrid at the same time.”

    One of Our Own

    Sainz describes his central role this weekend as an honour, but for Madrid-born supporters, the connection stretches back to his arrival on the world stage. The sense of pride is rooted in the moment he announced himself as a rookie.

    “My first real memory of Carlos is his Formula 1 debut, back in 2015 at the Australian Grand Prix”, says Bea Quevedo. “He qualified eighth and finished ninth, in the points, on his very first outing, an incredible result for a rookie that nobody expected.
    “I remember how thrilling it was to have another Spanish driver on the grid, and not just any driver: someone with that level of raw talent. For those of us in Madrid, it wasn’t just ‘a Spaniard in F1’; it was one of our own, a kid from our city, mixing it with the best in the world.”

    Now, after 11 seasons at the pinnacle of motorsport, four victories, and 29 podium finishes, that feeling of ownership has not faded. If anything, it has deepened now that the sport has finally arrived on his doorstep.

    Madrid’s Own Countdown

    Long before lights out, Madrid demonstrated it was more than ready for the spectacle, embracing the Grand Prix atmosphere days before a single lap was turned. From the start of the week, fans tracked Sainz’s packed schedule, eager to share in the emotion. That passion was vividly illustrated on Tuesday when Plaza del Callao filled up hours before his arrival.

    For his dedicated fan community, Team Fifty5, the bond runs deeper than a single race weekend.

    “This week, from the moment I landed, the city was already buzzing,” Sainz says. “I went to Callao and there were people there since early morning – different stories, different ages, all gathering together. It was incredible.
    “Team Fifty5 has been with me through the good weekends and the bad ones, and seeing that kind of dedication and support in my own city gave me a boost I don’t take for granted.”

    For Quevedo, Sainz is not merely a competitor here; he is the reason the excitement feels so personal to the people of Madrid. That connection between the city and its driver gives the week its soul.

    Itziar Blazquez echoes that sentiment. “Sharing a passion with different people around the world is cool, but sharing the exact same love for the same driver creates a real bond,” she says.
    Additionally, being part of the Fifty5 community, “feels like getting a step closer to a big global family that backs him no matter what.”

    A Home Race, Literally

    For most drivers, a “home race” implies a supportive grandstand and a familiar setting—Monaco, for instance, is special because many reside there minutes from the track. For Sainz, Madrid means something far more literal.

    “Madrid is my home and I’ve always been very proud of the city and my country,” he says. “I get to spend the weekend with my family and sleep at my parents’ house to then go racing – that doesn’t happen anywhere else on the calendar.
    “And then on top of that, I get to do it in front of a Spanish crowd, in the city that watched me grow up. It’s going to be a very special weekend.”

    Carlos Sainz’s Legacy in Madrid

    Regardless of the result on Sunday, fans in Madrid have already settled on what this weekend—and the journey leading to it—signifies. Having lived her entire life in the capital, Blazquez can attest to what Sainz represents for the city.

    “He’s the heart of motorsport in the capital of Spain, he’s become a role model,” she says. To her, Sainz is someone who “represents Madrid spirit at its best: his relentless hard work, resilience, and class.”
    Her message to him is simple: “You carried Madrid to the top step of the podium, to the world stage, and now you’ve brought Formula 1 back home. So, thanks.”

  • Cadillac Fined Twice After Sergio Perez FP1 Infringements in Madrid

    Cadillac Fined Twice After Sergio Perez FP1 Infringements in Madrid

    The Cadillac Formula 1 team has received two fines after Sergio Perez was caught speeding in the pit lane during the first free practice session (FP1) at the Spanish Grand Prix in Madrid.

    Perez Breaches Pit Lane Speed Limit Twice

    The Mexican driver exceeded the mandatory 80 km/h pit lane speed limit on two separate occasions during the opening session of the weekend. FIA stewards penalized the American outfit for breaching Article B1.6.3a.i of the FIA F1 regulations.

    • First offence: A fine of €700 after Perez was clocked at 86.7 km/h, exceeding the limit by 6.7 km/h.
    • Second offence: A heavier penalty of €1,000 after Perez was recorded travelling at 96.7 km/h, exceeding the limit by 16.7 km/h.

    Difficult Debut Season Continues for Cadillac

    The infractions come amid a challenging inaugural campaign for the Cadillac squad. As the team works to adapt to the championship, it has grappled with significant reliability issues. In the drivers’ standings, Perez currently sits 23rd while his team-mate Valtteri Bottas occupies 22nd place; both drivers have yet to score a point.

    Madrid Debut: The Madring Circuit

    The first practice session in Madrid also marked the first time Formula 1 drivers tackled the Madring circuit. Built around the IFEMA Madrid exhibition centre and the nearby Valdebebas district, the venue operates a semi-street circuit layout. The track features a mix of tight zones and high-speed straights, highlighted by a banked, sweeping curve named “La Monumental”.

    Perez: “A Proper Race Track”

    Speaking to the media ahead of the race weekend, Perez offered his initial impressions based on simulator work:

    “The track itself is a proper race track, from what I’ve seen,” Perez told the media ahead of the race weekend. “I haven’t been on the circuit yet, but from what I’ve seen on the simulator, it’s a proper track.
    “It’s a bit scary, I’ll say. It reminds me a bit of Jeddah. Good, proper track, really happy to be here, and I think the atmosphere here is going to be one of the best.”

    FP1 Results

    The 36-year-old concluded the session with the 21st fastest time, finishing only ahead of team-mate Bottas.

  • F1 Spanish GP: George Russell tops FP1 as Lewis Hamilton impedes several drivers

    F1 Spanish GP: George Russell tops FP1 as Lewis Hamilton impedes several drivers

    George Russell Tops Historic First F1 Session at Madring for Spanish Grand Prix

    Mercedes driver George Russell set the pace in the inaugural Formula 1 session at the brand-new Madring circuit, leading Free Practice 1 for the 2025 Spanish Grand Prix. The session marked the first time F1 cars have run on the Madrid street layout, with 20 of the 22 entries taking to the track within the opening 100 seconds.

    Early Running and Tyre Strategies

    Nico Hulkenberg and Franco Colapinto were the last to emerge from the garages. Initial flying laps were tentative, with most drivers circulating in the 1m42s to 1m45s range. However, Lewis Hamilton, Max Verstappen, and Lando Norris immediately dropped into the 1m39s bracket.

    Lap times tumbled rapidly. Within eight minutes, Hamilton—now driving for Ferrari—lowered the benchmark to 1m36.066s. He successively improved to 1m35.563s and 1m34.803s on medium tyres. Team-mate Charles Leclerc briefly went 0.120s quicker, but Hamilton responded with a 1m34.620s to reclaim top spot before the soft-compound runs began.

    Gabriel Bortoleto was the only driver to start on hard tyres. When the field switched to softs, Kimi Antonelli and Russell’s opening efforts fell 0.063s and 0.109s short of Hamilton’s medium-tyre reference.

    Mercedes Lock Out the Front Row

    Russell’s third flyer—a 1m34.145s—moved him to the top of the timesheets. He then improved to a session-best 1m34.077s. Antonelli followed in 1m34.363s, giving Mercedes a 1-2.

    Both Leclerc and Hamilton ran wide at Turn 17. Leclerc narrowly improved his personal best, while Hamilton ended the session as the only driver not to set his quickest lap on soft tyres—alongside Yuki Tsunoda, whose Running Bulls suffered a power-steering failure with 25 minutes remaining.

    Midfield Battle and Impeding Incidents

    Verstappen finished fifth ahead of Norris, Arvid Lindblad—who cleared the midfield pack—and Oscar Piastri. Hulkenberg, Liam Lawson, Bortoleto, Pierre Gasly, Esteban Ocon, and Colapinto were grouped between 1m35.5s and 1m35.9s.

    Home favourite Fernando Alonso placed an encouraging 15th by Aston Martin’s current standards, ahead of one Haas, both Williams, both Cadillacs, and team-mate Lance Stroll.

    The session’s main flashpoint came when Lindblad, on a flying lap, encountered the slow-moving Mercedes of Antonelli and Ferrari of Hamilton in the La Monumental section.

    “These same two guys, man! Like, I don’t know what they’re doing, they’re just stupid, right in the fast corner! It’s actually very dangerous, it’s been twice now.”

    Hamilton was subsequently involved in further impeding incidents at the expense of Leclerc and Hulkenberg. Carlos Sainz also complained over team radio about the manner in which the seven-time world champion let him past at La Monumental.

    Spanish Grand Prix FP1 Classification

    Full session results and statistical analysis are available via the official timing screens.