Carlos Sainz has given Formula 1 fans an early look at Madrid’s new Madring circuit, but the first reactions suggest the venue still has plenty to prove before its Spanish Grand Prix debut in September.
The Williams driver completed his first laps of the new Madrid venue behind the wheel of a 450bhp Ford Mustang GT. The run offered fans their clearest look yet at the 5.4 km, 22-turn layout, which will host its first Formula 1 race later this season.
Sainz suggested the circuit is quicker than it may appear on video, but online reaction was far from unanimous. Some fans praised specific sections of the track, particularly the banked corner, while others criticised the overall design and visual character of the layout.
Loveral comments focused on the contrast between the circuit’s more dramatic sections and its slower-looking areas. One fan described the banked section as the most appealing part of the track, while another called the layout one of the least attractive they had seen.
Others were more positive, arguing that the mix of street-style sections and purpose-built track areas could create an interesting race. The apparent width of the circuit also drew some optimism, with fans hoping it may offer better racing than some modern street venues.
Sainz was named a brand ambassador for the Madring circuit in 2025. At the time, he spoke strongly in favour of the project, describing Madrid as the city he misses most when he is away and saying he believed the city could build one of the best circuits in the world.
His connection to the venue gives the project a major local figurehead, especially as Formula 1 prepares for a new chapter in Spain. The Madring race will mark a significant moment for Madrid as it enters the F1 calendar.
The 2026 Spanish Grand Prix at the Madring circuit is scheduled to take place from 11-13 September. It will form the second part of a double-header with the Italian Grand Prix.
For now, the early gavect remains mixed. Sainz’s demonstration run has created attention and debate, but fans will have to wait until race weekend to see whether Madring can deliver the kind of on-track action Formula 1 expects from a new grand prix venue.
