Carlos Sainz takes the first full lap of “Madring” — and says the new Madrid F1 track is far more extreme than anyone expected

Carlos Sainz has officially broken in Madrid’s brand‑new Formula 1 circuit — and his first impressions paint a picture of a track that’s anything but a typical street layout. Driving a Ford Mustang, the Williams driver completed the first full lap of the 3.35‑mile course, discovering a technical, demanding, high‑altitude roller coaster filled with blind corners, elevation changes, and a signature turn he believes could become one of the most iconic in the world.

What surprised him most? The now‑famous Monumental corner — a massive 1,770‑foot banked curve with a 24% incline.

“I thought La Monumental was just banking,” Sainz said. “But suddenly I see it’s not only banked — it’s completely blind. It’s a wild mix. All you see is the sky… from Madrid to the sky.”

“You enter flat‑out… then suddenly you’re blind”

Sainz says the elevation change leading into the Monumental is the most shocking part of the lap.

“We’ll go in flat‑out, maybe lift a bit in the middle so the front end bites… but the crest is what hits you. You come out completely blind,” he explained, comparing the ambition of the corner to legends like Eau Rouge, 130R, and Copse.

The Spanish Grand Prix — moving from Barcelona to Madrid — will make its debut on September 13, but Sainz insists Madring is much more than the world’s longest banked corner.

Breaking down the lap: Sainz’s corner‑by‑corner tour

Turn 1 — “First braking zone, first overtaking point. You have to throw the car in early. Third gear. I like it a lot — you’ll see us fighting the car here.”

The first sector is defined by the long Ribera del Sena straight and the heavy braking into Turn 5.

Turn 5 — “A full kilometer flat‑out. We’ll hit 200–205 mph. Battery strategy between Turns 1 and 4 will matter for overtaking. It’s a tight corner, like a funnel — perfect for passing.”

From there, the track climbs into the Subida de las Cárcavas, an 8% uphill section.

The permanent section: blind corners, compression, and pure downforce

Entering the permanent part of the circuit, Sainz highlights a sequence that will push drivers to the limit:

Blind chicane — “Completely blind corner, a bit of compression, blind braking, then a slow chicane… and suddenly the track opens up with fast, high‑downforce corners.”

“This is where we’ll enjoy a Formula 1 car to the fullest,” he said before approaching the Monumental.

The banking then slingshots drivers toward Turn 13, another clear overtaking zone thanks to the heavy braking that follows the massive curve.

After that comes a series of fast corners that remind Sainz of Spa and Silverstone — long, flowing, and punishing.

Final sector: one last chance to attack

Near the IFEMA complex, the last sector features:

Turn 19 — “The last big braking zone. Another overtaking opportunity.”

The lap ends with two right‑handers, the first brushing a wall that could become a decisive spot in qualifying.

“It’s faster than it looks,” Sainz concluded after finishing the lap on pristine new asphalt, surrounded by ongoing construction of the pit lane, garages, and Paddock Club.

Work will continue through late May, followed by grandstand installation and final adjustments. Madring is set to host the Spanish Grand Prix through at least 2035.

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