Madring set for 2027 overhaul after drivers savage overtaking woes

Spanish Grand Prix organisers are preparing to redesign three sections of its under-fire Madring circuit for 2027 following a dire inaugural race.

Whilst the 22-corner track situated in the north-east of the Spanish capital Madrid delivered a superb qualifying spectacle, the race itself drew fierce criticism from many associated with F1 over a near-total absence of meaningful passing, with several corners identified as fundamentally flawed for wheel-to-wheel racing.

It is understood that following the first lap and the usual plethora of positional changes, there were just four notable overtakes. In contrast, there were 10 at this year's Monaco Grand Prix.

Four-time F1 champion Max Verstappen was blunt in his assessment of the layout's core problem, criticising braking zones that force drivers to turn and slow simultaneously.

"For the braking zones, they need to learn that it should never be that you have to steer and combine that under braking," said Verstappen. "It doesn't allow any kind of overtaking. So, in terms of track design, I think it can be better."

Reigning champion Lande Norris went further, questioning the entire concept behind the circuit's design.

"I don't know how someone looks at this design and goes 'mint'," remarked the McLaren driver. "The fact you have to turn and brake basically defeats the whole object of racing. They can do some simple changes."

Madring's trio of problem zones

The Turn 5/6 chicane, reached after a long run along the Ribera del Sena, was singled out as the most damaging section. Its curved braking zone and narrow entry stripped drivers of alternative lines, making side-by-side racing there almost impossible without heavy risk of contact.

Antonelli described a near-miss with Norris through that exact sequence.

"It definitely doesn't create overtaking opportunities and it doesn't push you to try and make a move, because 80 percent of the time you might have contact," said Mercedes' championship leader.

Referring to an opening-lap incident, he added: "I think especially in the second chicane, if I would have turned in there, me and Lando would have touched and probably gone into the wall."

Haas driver Oliver Bearman echoed the complaint, pointing to the same curved-braking problem as a fundamental design flaw.

"That kind of curved braking takes away any possibility of different lines and sending one up the inside," he said. "So that's a shame and maybe a bit of an oversight."

Turn 13, arriving straight after the banked La Monumental curve, is a second target. Despite the slipstream built up through the banking, the corner's medium-speed profile does not offer a heavy enough braking zone to convert that tow into a genuine passing chance.

The technical, low-speed sequence through Turns 18 and 19 ahead of the final complex was also flagged as a bottleneck that kills momentum rather than feeding a straight into a hairpin.

Madring event managing director Luis Garcia Abad confirmed the FIA has already outlined a path forward.

"Being honest with you, 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 next year," he said.

Ferrari and Mercedes bosses strike a more balanced tone

Not every voice in the paddock was as critical of the weekend as a whole. Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur praised the event's staging even while acknowledging the racing itself needs work.

"For me, overall, the event was mega," said Vasseur, speaking to the media, including RacingNews365.

"The infrastructure, 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."

Confirming that initial talks followed, he added: "They [the organisers] came to us on Thursday, but it was very early, and then on Friday evening to see if we think that it would be difficult to overtake.

"They are keen to do modifications in the future. They probably have more latitude in Madrid than in Monaco to change something.

"So let's work together to see if we can do something better. But overall, we have to be fair with them. It was a good event."

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff struck a similar note, framing the circuit's debut as a promising foundation that now needs refining.

"For a first [event], it's probably one of the best, or maybe the best I've seen so far," said Wolff, speaking to the media, including RacingNews365.

"It's a temporary circuit. [But] They've built something that is challenging for the drivers, a mini Macau or a mini Monaco, and the location is good.

"We're thinking about how much more can we do next year in terms of the events here or presentations because we have the space and that's very rare.

"That is the tricky bit. Doing a track that is spectacular, also for the drivers, and then building it in a way that there is lots of overtaking.

"I had a discussion with the CEO of the circuit and they are totally open-minded about next year. They said they've had discussions with the FIA - 'What is it we should do? How should we lay the track out when it comes to overtaking?'

"There is a constant discussion and I think that they are on it and understand that we can tweak it a little bit here or there."

Norris, for his part, made clear he expects the promised changes to materialise before Madring returns to the calendar.

"They can do some simple changes," he said. "I hope they do it because then it should be more exciting for everyone."