Kimi Antonelli Faces New Test at Madrid’s Debut Madring Circuit

Posted : 10 September 2026

Kimi Antonelli arrives at this weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix riding the momentum of a remarkable home victory at Monza, but the Mercedes driver now faces a very different challenge at Madrid’s new Madring circuit. The 20-year-old became the first Italian to win the Italian Grand Prix since 1966 after charging from 19th on the grid to beat teammate George Russell. The result extended his championship advantage to 66 points after 13 rounds.

The Madrid race represents Formula 1’s first visit to the new Madring venue, which combines public roads with purpose-built sections around the IFEMA exhibition centre near Barajas Airport. It also marks F1’s return to the Madrid area for the first time since the 1981 Spanish Grand Prix at Jarama, where Gilles Villeneuve claimed victory for Ferrari.

Madring is expected to provide a demanding test for the entire field. The 5.416-kilometre circuit features 22 corners, fast opening sections and a mixture of medium- and low-speed turns. Its distinctive La Monumental corner is a long, heavily banked section with a blind crest, while the newly laid asphalt is expected to offer limited grip during the opening weekend.

Max Verstappen has already warned that the circuit could produce plenty of incidents after testing it on a simulator. The Red Bull driver believes the layout will make it difficult for drivers to complete a perfect lap, while the combination of fast sections and challenging corners could result in safety cars and stoppages.

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff is also expecting a close contest. The team has dominated much of the season, with Antonelli claiming seven victories and Russell adding two more. However, the characteristics of Madring are considered more comparable to circuits such as Budapest and Zandvoort, potentially opening the door for McLaren and Ferrari to challenge Mercedes.

Antonelli's title rival Russell enters the weekend 66 points behind his teammate, while Lewis Hamilton and Lando Norris are further back. Mercedes has won nine of the opening 13 races, underlining the strength of its 2026 campaign.

The home crowd will also have plenty to support. Madrid-born Carlos Sainz will race for Williams at a circuit for which he serves as an ambassador, while Fernando Alonso will represent Aston Martin. Both Spaniards face an uphill battle for strong results following inconsistent campaigns, although the event is expected to attract a huge crowd.

The Spanish Grand Prix will also see Liam Lawson continue to stand in for injured Isack Hadjar, who is set to miss a third consecutive race while recovering from a broken wrist. Yuki Tsunoda remains in the second Red Bull seat.

Madring becomes the first completely new circuit to join the F1 calendar since Las Vegas in 2023 and the 78th different venue to host a world championship race. With its unfamiliar layout, limited grip and unusual banking, Antonelli’s next step in his title campaign promises to be a very different test from his extraordinary comeback at Monza.

Kimi Antonelli Faces New Test at Madrid’s Debut Madring Circuit

ADD A COMMENT :

Hot Topics