(Motorsport-Total.com) – The new Madrid ring triggered mostly positive reactions during its Formula 1 debut on Friday. Several drivers praised the demanding 5.4-kilometer course in Madrid, which combines the characteristics of a street circuit with fast and medium-speed corners. Max Verstappen, on the other hand, remains true to his stance and still cannot warm up to street circuits.
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Oscar Piastri, who finished the training day in fifth place, finds the Madrid ring more demanding than some other tracks. “There are many sections here where you don’t really drive along the walls. You steer or rather drive towards them and then have to avoid them. That makes it quite challenging,” said the McLaren driver.
At the same time, Piastri quickly took a liking to the layout. All drivers are still getting used to the track, but once you find a good rhythm over a lap, driving becomes fun. “When you find a good rhythm in a lap, it’s quite enjoyable.”
Leclerc impressed by lots of grip
Charles Leclerc also showed enthusiasm after the first two practice sessions. The Ferrari driver described the Madrid ring as exciting and demanding – exactly the qualities he usually appreciates in street circuits.
“It was exciting to drive on the Madrid course today. It is a demanding street circuit, and I usually like such tracks. This one is no exception,” says Leclerc. He is particularly surprised by the grip: “I was quite impressed by how much grip was already available, considering it is a completely new track and there isn’t much rubber laid down yet.”
The first practice sessions went largely without major incidents. Only Racing Bulls driver Arvid Lindblad caused an accident in the second practice. The combination of several braking zones, changing grip conditions, tire wear, and traffic posed some challenges for the drivers.
Russell warns of high risk
George Russell meanwhile confirms his impression of the Madrid ring expressed before the weekend. The Mercedes driver describes the course as a “track with very high risk.” At the same time, Russell expects difficult overtaking maneuvers.
He hits on a point that is apparently a topic for many in the paddock. Due to the track layout and limited runoff areas, it is likely to be difficult to gain positions on the track during the race.
Sergio Perez expresses himself particularly enthusiastically. The Mexican had less reason to be happy with the performance of his Cadillac but much more with the new track. “Yes, really a cool track, a really nice venue. I’m very happy to be here in Madrid,” says Perez.
Perez expects chaotic weekend
Perez expects the new track to cause a lot of unrest already on Saturday and Sunday. “I think tomorrow will be a chaotic qualifying and on Sunday, of course, a very chaotic race. So a lot can happen.
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His expectations for the new Spanish Grand Prix are accordingly high: “I think this will definitely become the best race in Europe.” For Cadillac, it is now about making the most of the possibilities of a potentially unpredictable weekend.
“I’m really looking forward to it. As a team, we just have to make sure that we are able to deliver a perfect weekend,” says Perez.
Verstappen still against street circuits
Max Verstappen, on the other hand, cannot get excited about the concept even after his first laps on the Madrid ring. The Red Bull driver makes it clear that his fundamental aversion to street circuits has not changed because of the new track.
“I don’t know. I’m not a fan of street circuits, and that won’t change,” says Verstappen. For him, a classic race track like Spa remains the preferred option.
Nevertheless, Verstappen also finds words of praise for the implementation of the new venue. “I think what they did in the construction and design, they really did well. But I’m not a fan of street circuits.”
Alonso struggles with energy management
Fernando Alonso meanwhile drew attention to another problem. The Madrid ring does not particularly strain the power units, but the rapidly changing grip conditions affect energy management and thus the work of drivers and teams.
This was especially relevant for Alonso after he was only able to drive again in the second half of the second practice following a clutch problem. “It will always be difficult to get the tire temperature and battery charge state right at the end of the lap,” explains the Aston Martin driver.
Apparently, the Honda power unit reacts sensitively to different driving styles. “Sometimes, when you use a different driving style in the last corners, it seems that we are very sensitive to that with the Honda power unit,” says Alonso.
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