Max Verstappen on Madrid: Initial assessment of the new circuit

Max Verstappen has already won the Spanish Grand Prix four times; 2016 saw his first GP victory, on his debut for Red Bull Racing. The Dutchman also triumphed in 2022, 2023 and 2024.

Meanwhile, the traditional World Championship round (the first Formula 1 edition took place as far back as 1951) has found a new home. The race will no longer be held at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, but at the Madring in the Spanish capital, Madrid.

Verstappen, a 71-time Grand Prix winner, says of the upcoming Formula 1 debut at the IFEMA exhibition centre: “It’s hard to say how we’ll fare there. We’ve obviously practised the Madring in the simulator, and it looks to me like a rather more demanding circuit, as most street circuits are, with some quite tricky corners.”

“We need to get the grip levels right when we do the first two practice sessions on Friday, and then build on that. The practice sessions will be more important than usual for gathering as much information as possible ahead of qualifying. At the same time, it’s a new circuit for everyone, and hopefully we’ll be able to get to grips with it straight away and get off to a good start.”

Liam Lawson is standing in (as he did previously at Zandvoort and Monza) for Isack Hadjar, who has a wrist injury. The 24-year-old New Zealander adds: “Madrid will be an interesting weekend for everyone. So far, we’ve only driven the circuit in the simulator, so the first free practice session will tell us a lot about where we stand.”

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“I think it’s a unique circuit, and the banked La Monumental corner should make things interesting. Monza was a challenging weekend right from the start – the engine change put me on the back foot, so I could hardly show what I’m really capable of. On a positive note, I found good pace as the weekend went on, which gives me confidence for Madrid.”