Ferrari steals the spotlight as F1 heads to Spa — and gets first taste of Madrid’s new street circuit
“It’s a very, very special corner. It could become one of the most iconic corners of the year,” Leclerc said after testing Madring in the Ferrari.
Ferrari has been front‑and‑center in Formula 1’s run‑up to Spa. Fresh off their first double podium since Lewis Hamilton arrived in Maranello — with Charles Leclerc delivering the team’s 250th win at Silverstone — the Scuderia also became the first team to drive on Madring, the brand‑new street circuit in Madrid that will host the Spanish Grand Prix this September.
Both Leclerc and Hamilton shared their impressions from last week’s filming day, and their reactions couldn’t be more different.
Leclerc falls in love with Madring’s street‑circuit chaos
Leclerc, a self‑professed street‑circuit addict, was instantly hooked: “I have no doubt I’ll love Madring. You have to go flat‑out, and that’s something I always enjoy on street tracks. It’s still under construction, there was dirt everywhere, but it looks like a great circuit.”
One section already has his full attention: La Monumental, a dramatic, high‑speed, banked corner that’s expected to become Madring’s signature.
“It’s a very, very special corner. In qualifying we’ll have to be extremely brave — it’ll be right on the limit. It could become one of the most iconic corners of the year, especially once the grandstand is built.”
Leclerc was asked to compare Madring’s banking with Zandvoort:
“Zandvoort’s last corner is flat, and Turn 3 is great but slower. Madring doesn’t look flat‑out yet. I was nowhere near it, mostly because of the dust.”
Hamilton: impressed by the layout, skeptical about the racing
Hamilton also enjoyed being one of the first drivers to sample the new track: “It was great to see a new circuit and be among the first to experience it.”
But he’s not convinced Madring will produce great racing: “We only did a few laps, so it was very dusty and there was no grip. It looks like a qualifying circuit — almost no straights — so overtaking will be tough.”
He agrees with Leclerc that La Monumental won’t be flat‑out: “Once the grip improves it’ll be faster, but we’ll definitely have to lift.”
Aston Martin: Ferrari’s early test? No surprise
Aston Martin’s track boss, Mike Krack, wasn’t shocked that Ferrari got first dibs on Madring:
“Not surprising. Every team is free to run promotional days or demo events. And you always learn something — even with different tires, whether it’s about the layout or other details. I’m sure they picked up a few things.”
Get closer to the game! Whether you like your soccer of the European variety or that on this side of the pond, our AS USA app has it all. Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more. Plus, stay updated on NFL, NBA and all other big sports stories as well as the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.
And there’s more: check out our TikTok and Instagram reels for bite-sized visual takes on all the biggest soccer news and insights.