Fernando Alonso: Things need to change at his home Grand Prix

Last weekend’s race debut in Madrid on the new ‘Madring’ circuit drew plenty of praise for the atmosphere and generated excitement about a challenging and thrilling track for qualifying and practice (3 red flags!). The race itself, however, was a sobering experience.

As had already been feared on the basis of simulator data – and then, unfortunately, confirmed during the Grand Prix – overtaking was virtually impossible. The race was a procession in which the drivers, depending on their position, hoped that there would be an interruption – or indeed that there wouldn’t. A lot of waiting around rather than great racing. There was hardly any action to be seen over the 57 laps. Audi driver Gabriel Bortoleto jokingly admitted that he’d almost fallen asleep.

So what needs to change? After the race, virtually all the drivers and team principals agreed: structural changes must be made to the circuit before the next race. The organisers, led by circuit director Luis Garcia Abad, indicated they were willing to do so. But how and where?

Alonso wants to modify a combination of corners

Local hero Fernando Alonso, who finished the Madrid Grand Prix in a disappointing 17th place, two laps down, said: “We need to work with the FIA to see what we can do.” The world governing body gives the final go-ahead for the circuits. Alonso: “Perhaps something in corners 5, 6 and 7.”

The start-finish straight at the Madring is located on an exhibition site. Consequently, the first and last corners of the circuit are mainly 90-degree turns, with the sections in between mostly consisting of high-speed straights. From Turn 5 up to and including Turn 19, the circuit is narrow and twisty with many slow corners. The approach to this section, in particular, with its two tight corners, caused the drivers a headache.

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A bridge in the way!

Alonso: “It would be nice to have something there.” Perhaps a proper chicane. Alonso: “But I think the problem is that we pass under the motorway there and there’s a bridge.” That’s right! Turn 6 is even called “Autopista”, meaning motorway. The circuit runs through a tunnel beneath a perfectly ordinary road at that point. So, structurally, there are limitations there, as the bridge piers are already in place – and, naturally, have to stay there. Generally speaking, the site doesn’t offer much scope for modifications.

Alonso: “So that could prove difficult. But they (the Madring team, ed.) were very open to listening to our suggestions. I don’t know if the race was exciting to watch from the outside, but overtaking was definitely difficult for us drivers. Perhaps there are ways to improve things a little within the spatial constraints with a few minor tweaks.” Let’s hope so, at any rate!