What a horror!” — Pictures of New F1 Track Emerge as Fans Are… See details 👇.

 

“What a horror!” — Pictures of New F1 Track Emerge as Fans Are Not Impressed

Formula 1 fans have reacted with a mixture of disbelief, criticism and curiosity after fresh pictures of Madrid’s new Madring circuit emerged online, with some supporters brutally describing the unfinished venue as a “horror.”

The new circuit is preparing for its first-ever Formula 1 race when Madrid hosts the Spanish Grand Prix on September 11–13, 2026. Construction began in April 2025, and the venue is being built around the IFEMA exhibition centre, combining public-road sections with newly constructed parts of the circuit. �

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However, the latest images have triggered a surprisingly negative reaction from sections of the F1 community.

Fans react to the latest pictures

Recent photographs from the construction site show large portions of the circuit taking shape, including sections around Turns 5–8 and Turn 12. Fans have been closely following the development, with one recent Reddit discussion attracting hundreds of votes and a mixture of excitement and criticism. �

Reddit

Some reactions have focused on how unfinished the venue still looks despite the inaugural Grand Prix being less than a month away.

That has led to comments questioning whether everything will be ready in time, while others have criticised the visual appearance of some sections of the track.

But there is an important distinction: the pictures being circulated show a circuit still undergoing construction, rather than the finished Grand Prix venue. The organisers are continuing work ahead of September’s race.

Madring is no ordinary F1 circuit

Despite the criticism, the track itself has some spectacular features.

Formula 1 lists the Madring at 5.416 kilometres, with 22 corners and 57 laps planned for the Spanish Grand Prix. Cars are expected to reach speeds of around 340 km/h, while the circuit’s dramatic elevation changes and heavily banked sections are intended to make it one of the more distinctive venues on the calendar. �

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The biggest talking point is La Monumental, a huge banked corner that Formula 1 says will feature up to a 24% gradient. The section is designed to keep the cars under sustained lateral load while thousands of spectators watch from the surrounding grandstands. �

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Carlos Sainz has already driven the new circuit, completing the first laps at the purpose-built section in May. �

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Why the criticism matters

Madrid’s arrival is a major moment for F1. The Spanish capital has signed a long-term agreement to host the Spanish Grand Prix from 2026 through 2035, replacing the current Barcelona-Catalunya venue as the country’s designated Grand Prix host. �

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That means the Madring has enormous expectations to meet.

Fans want a circuit capable of producing overtaking, strategy battles and memorable racing—not simply another modern venue dominated by impressive architecture and expensive facilities.

The circuit’s unusual combination of street sections, fast straights, elevation changes and the massive La Monumental corner could ultimately answer those concerns once the cars hit the track competitively.

The truth behind the “horror” reaction

For now, the harsh online reaction should be treated with some caution.

The images circulating are construction photographs, not photographs of a completed Grand Prix facility. With the inaugural Spanish Grand Prix still scheduled for September 13, there is time for finishing work and presentation improvements. �

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So while some fans may currently be calling the Madring a “horror”, the real verdict will come when Formula 1’s 2026 cars attack its 22 corners for the first time.

**And that is when the pictures will no longer matter—the racing will.**