Sainz Completes First Laps at Madrid’s Madring

Williams driver Carlos Sainz, a Madrid native, completed the first laps of the new Madring in Spain’s capital ahead of the circuit’s debut at the 2026 Spanish Grand Prix in September.

The purpose-built Madring combines permanent track sections with stretches of public road, offering a fresh layout for drivers and fans. It’s the latest addition to the Formula 1 calendar and is expected to deliver an exciting, city-centre spectacle.

Sainz sampled the circuit’s most talked-about feature: the banked turn nicknamed “La Monumental.” That half-kilometre section carries a 24% banking gradient and will be flanked by grandstands, creating a dramatic, high-speed arena for overtakes and close racing.

The laps gave Sainz and the team initial impressions of the line, kerbs and visibility through the complex sections of the new venue. For fans, the combination of street-style corners and permanent infrastructure promises a distinctive race weekend atmosphere.

A gallery of the best photos from Sainz’s runs is available on the page for those who want a closer look at the car on track, the venue and La Monumental’s imposing banking.