Drivers called the inaugural Madrid Grand Prix boring and useless, and the organisers have answered with a promise: the circuit will be changed for next year.
Alex Albon of Williams described the race as “pretty boring,” while Audi’s Gabriel Bortoleto said he “almost fell asleep.” World champion Lando Norris went further, calling one section of the track “useless” and describing it as “not a great racetrack.” The track, dubbed Madring, opened at the Ifema exhibition centre near Madrid’s international airport.
The response from the teams was mixed. Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur and Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff both praised the event and the new facility. But they also acknowledged the criticism and said the organisers are willing to work on improving the layout for next season.
The Drivers’ Complaints
The criticism centred on the lack of overtaking opportunities. Albon and Bortoleto were blunt about the experience during the race itself.
Norris, who was denied victory for McLaren by the timing of a virtual safety car, offered specific suggestions for improvement. He said the circuit should get rid of Turns 18 and 19, which he called “useless,” and suggested replacing them with a straight into a hairpin.
“There are some obvious changes they should make. They should get rid of [Turns] 18, 19 – useless. Just have more of a straight into a hairpin.”
He also questioned the design process. “I don’t know how someone looks at this design and goes, ‘mint’,” he said. “There’s a lot of opportunity. They can make it into a track that’s good for racing, and I’m excited to come back here next year if they can make these changes because I think it’s a track that is good fun to drive and it can be a great racetrack.”
Team Principals Praise the Event
Vasseur and Wolff took a different approach. Both team bosses praised the event and the new facility, even as they noted the room for improvement.
Vasseur said the event was “mega” overall. “We were mega welcome in the city. We have also to be fair with them and to congratulate Madrid for the job done on this side,” he said. He added that the organisers “are keen to do modifications in the future. They have probably more latitude in Madrid than in Monaco to change something.”
Wolff was similarly positive about the first race. “For a first [race], it’s probably one of the best, or maybe the best, that I’ve seen so far,” he said. “It’s a temporary circuit. They’ve built something that is challenging for the drivers. A mini Macau or a mini Monaco. The location is good.”
Both team principals spoke of ongoing discussions with the circuit’s CEO. Wolff said he had “a discussion yesterday with the CEO of the circuit and they are totally open-minded about next year.” The FIA has also been involved in the planning, according to the teams.
What the Organisers Said
Luis Garcia Abad, the managing director of Madring and former manager of two-time F1 world champion Fernando Alonso, told Autosport that improvements are planned. “The FIA defined clearly which is the way to improve the track layout, and we will be open because we will have to reinstall the track for the next year,” he said.
“We have the space, we have a venue, we have the facilities, we have the capacity to do it. I’m sure that FOM [Formula One Management], FIA and ourselves, we will try. If we can improve something, we will do it,” he added.
Garcia Abad did not respond to requests for comment from BBC Sport on Monday.
The Track’s Design
The Madring circuit combines existing roads at Ifema with specific sections of permanent circuit. One of the key features is the trademark banked corner at Turn 12, known as La Monumental.
The track is temporary, which gives organisers some flexibility. But the design choices have been questioned, particularly the sections that reward single-lap performance over sustained pace.
Race Winner’s Criticism
Kimi Antonelli, the race winner, was not immune to the criticism. She said the track “definitely doesn’t create overtaking opportunities and it doesn’t push you to try and make a move because 80% of the time you might have a contact.”
She added: “There are some corners that need to be changed to create more overtaking opportunities because right now, yes, it’s nice over one lap, but for sure in the race you’re just stuck behind.”
Fans Complain Too
The criticism was not limited to the drivers. On social media, F1 fans complained about access and the facilities, citing issues such as sitting on earth trackside, poor visibility, broken facilities and a general lack of readiness.
It is well known that organisers were up against it in terms of the timeframe to get the track ready for its first event.
What Changes Are Likely
The organisers have told commercial rights holder F1 and governing body the FIA that they are prepared to make changes for next year. The specifics of those changes have not been detailed publicly.
The teams have discussed the layout with the circuit’s CEO, and Wolff said there is “a constant discussion” about how to improve the track for overtaking.
A Fair Effort
Vasseur summed up the position of the teams. “Overall, I think we have to be fair with them. It was a good effort,” he said.
The organisers have shown willingness to act on the feedback. That is a relief to the drivers who complained, and a signal to fans that the complaints were heard.
Whether the changes will make the track better for racing remains to be seen. But the fact that the organisers are willing to make them is a good start.
The Madrid Grand Prix has its first race behind it. Now it has a chance to learn from it and come back stronger next year.
| Party | Position on the Circuit |
|---|---|
| Drivers (Albon, Bortoleto, Norris) | Critical — “boring,” “useless,” lack of overtaking |
| Teams (Vasseur, Wolff) | Positive — “mega,” challenging for drivers |
| Fans | Critical — access, facilities, visibility |
The contrast between the drivers’ complaints and the teams’ praise shows how differently the event was received. The track is fast and demanding over a single lap, but the drivers who raced it found little room to pass.
The organisers have a clear path forward. They have the space, the facilities and the willingness to change. Whether the changes will address the drivers’ concerns remains to be seen. But the fact that the organisers are willing to make them is a good start.
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