lMAX VERSTAPPEN ON MADRID: “A CIRCUIT FOR THE DRIVER WITH THE….see more in comment

lMAX VERSTAPPEN ON MADRID: “A CIRCUIT FOR THE DRIVER WITH THE….see more in comment

First impressions of Madring

Max Verstappen has given his initial take on the new Madring circuit set to host the Spanish Grand Prix from September 11-13, 2026. The four-time world champion arrives in Madrid with no previous data and a car he’s described as tricky all season, but he sees the 5.4km, 22-corner layout as a real test of driver skill. Spanish F3 driver Bruno del Pino singled out Verstappen as the kind of driver who could shine there, calling it “a circuit for the driver with the most character”. Verstappen himself has pushed for Barcelona to stay alongside Madrid, saying “it’s a fantastic circuit to drive an F1 car” and that having “such a suitable circuit with so much history is important” for Spain.

What makes the track challenging

The Madring blends street and purpose-built sections around the IFEMA exhibition centre, with features like the 24% banked “La Monumental” Turn 12 inspired by a bullring, and a long 839m straight along Ribera del Sena where cars will exceed 320 km/h. Early F3 testing saw 19 red flags in two days, with drivers comparing it to Monaco and Macau for its tight, wall-lined nature. Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur warned it will be “a tricky one for everybody, perhaps a bit difficult to overtake” and “a little bit like Jeddah, high-speed corners between the walls”. Pirelli also expect high tyre loads comparable to Silverstone and Spa, nominating the medium C2-C4 compounds to manage degradation on the new abrasive asphalt.

Why it matters for Verstappen and Red Bull

For Verstappen and Red Bull, Madrid comes at a crucial point. After calling Zandvoort “a step backwards” for the RB22, Monza showed a recovery with a podium, but the team still lacks consistency. Red Bull believe a high-speed layout with braking zones could suit their traditional strengths, yet overtaking may be limited. Del Pino noted “in F1, with the energy management, they’ll have a little more room to manoeuvre, but… it will be very difficult” without being right behind. With Mercedes arriving as favourites after Monza, Verstappen’s initial assessment is clear: Madrid will reward commitment, punish mistakes, and could shake up the competitive order in the first year of the new regulations.