A Corner-by-Corner Guide to the Madrid F1® Circuit

I haven't been to this track or even seen the construction. We do have Seante Grand Prix staff attending and flying out tomorrow. So everything you will read comes from official websites, and I have tried to put it into an easy-to-read blog. It's an interesting F1® circuit.

Formula 1® enters an electrifying new frontier with the introduction of Madrid’s brand-new Grand Prix venue: The Madring. 

Weaving seamlessly through the world-renowned IFEMA Madrid exhibition grounds and the rolling hills of Valdebebas, this hybrid track blends street-fighting precision with purpose-built, high-speed rollercoaster topography.

So let's dive into the new circuit breakdown.

Sector 1: The Urban Sprint, Heavy Braking & The Valdebebas Climb

• Turn 1: Drivers roar off the 589-meter start/finish straight, reaching 320 km/h before stomping on the carbon brakes at the 100-meter marker. Scrubbing off over 220 km/h in seconds, this 77-degree right-hander offers an immediate overtaking opportunity.

• Turn 2: A snappy, technical right-hand follow-up sitting at 671 meters above sea level, the absolute lowest elevation point on the entire circuit.

• Turn 3 (Hortaleza Bend): A sweeping left-hand kink with subtle negative camber (-3% counter-banking) that compresses the suspension. Carrying exit momentum here is essential.

• Turn 4: A wide, sweeping flat-out curve where cars wind up speed alongside the IFEMA complex before firing onto an urban full-throttle stretch.

• Turn 5: One of the heaviest braking zones in world motorsport. Cars arrive touching 340 km/h before decelerating violently to just 80 km/h to navigate a tight 116-degree left-hand hook. Out-braking manoeuvres here will produce sensational wheel-to-wheel battles.

• Turns 6 & 7: The track plunges under the highway via the first tunnel and climbs rapidly through an 8% gradient, gaining 10 meters in elevation. Turn 7 is a completely blind, 90-degree apex sitting at the circuit’s summit (697 meters), immediately pitching cars onto a steep 5% downhill drop.

Sector 2: El Búnker, La Chicane, and "La Monumental" Banking

• Turn 8 (El Búnker): Named after the historic Spanish Civil War fortifications at La Mata Espesa, this rapid 84-degree corner catches drivers on the crest of a downhill slide. Getting the car rotated cleanly without unsettling the rear axle tests mechanical grip to the limit.

• Turn 9: A fast right-hand flick with 7% positive banking that fires the cars into the permanent Valdebebas arena.

• Turns 10 & 11 (La Chicane): A technical right-left chicane designed to scrub off entry velocity. Drivers attack the kerbs aggressively, stabilising the chassis for the track's signature masterpiece.

• Turn 12 ("La Monumental"): The defining jewel of the Madrid circuit. Spanning 550 meters in length and designed by Studio Dromo (the minds behind Zandvoort's banked turns), La Monumental boasts a staggering 24% banking, steeper than both Zandvoort and Indianapolis. Cars load into the bowl flat-out at nearly 300 km/h, pinning drivers to their seats under sustained, punishing lateral G-forces for over six seconds.

• Turn 13: The high-speed exit bowl out of the banking, demanding immense traction as cars unwind steering lock toward the next complex.

• Turns 14, 15 & 16 (Las Enlazadas de Valdebebas): A thrilling, undulating sequence of linked high-speed sweeps through Valdebebas taken virtually flat-out. Any slight lift or understeer destroys top speed down to the next braking zone.

• Turn 17: Hard braking down from 280 km/h to 100 km/h. A prime late-braking passing zone overlooked by VIP hospitality terraces.

• Turn 18 & 19: A sweeping, high-speed left-hand bend reaching 260 km/h that guides drivers back through the second tunnel underneath the motorway, re-entering the IFEMA South arena.

• Turn 20: A tight, 117-degree heavy-braking left-hander flanking IFEMA Hall 14, testing front tyre lockup after the tunnel straight.

• Turn 21: A precise 71-degree right-hander nestled between concrete walls where early throttle application is vital.

• Turn 22 (El Parque): The final corner. A 90-degree right-hander framed against the picturesque Juan Carlos I Park. Drivers must kiss the exit kerb without clipping the barriers, then slingshot down the main straight with full DRS.

The Trackside Verdict

With its dramatic 24% banking, extreme 340 km/h braking duels, and unique hybrid character combining city glamour with permanent sweeps, Madrid has built a circuit designed for pure spectacle. It promises to be an instant modern classic on the Formula 1® calendar.

And as always, when the lights go out and the drama unfolds, here at Senate Grand Prix, there is only one winner, and that's you, the race fans!

Call one of our Expert Agents today to secure your luxury VIP packages for the Madrid Grand Prix!

UK: 🇬🇧 +44 1342 830 490 - USA: 🇺🇸 +1 877 242 5176