Madring gets Ferrari thumbs up after Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc test
Photo: Race Pictures
19:00, 13 Jul
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The general manager of the Madring circuit has lifted the lid on Ferrari’s filming day.
Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc became the first Formula 1 drivers to experience the sport’s newest circuit during a private event on July 9.
The race in the Spanish capital will take place from September 11 to 13, and is still undergoing finishing touches.
Clips emerged on social media of the Scuderia pair having fun in their new surroundings, but circuit manager Luis Garcia Abad revealed it wasn’t the best of conditions.
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Hamilton told to slow down at Madring
Speaking at an event in Madrid, Mundo Deportivo quote him as saying:
"They were riding on asphalt at over 37 degrees. It was quite hot, the goldfinches were killing themselves because of the heat.”
However, Hamilton found another issue:
"He complained about compression and I told him that the best solution to avoid compression was to go a little slower, that it wouldn't be a problem.”
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Leclerc predicts thrilling qualifying at new circuit
Yet overall, both drivers were pleased:
"Leclerc commented that qualifying is going to be tremendous because you really pass very close to the walls.
"They liked it, but it's not because they have to like it or not. The circuit design is approved by the FIA, and from the very beginning, it was F1 itself that built each of the 22 curves of the track."
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Why Turn 8 could become Formula 1's newest iconic corner
Outside of the Ferraris, one of the biggest stars of the show will be Turn 8, which has been dramatically named ‘La Monumental’.
The corner is the longest on the 2026 calendar at 550 metres and has a banked curve at a 24 per cent gradient.
Garcia Abad explained: “From curve 4 to 19 it is a real roller coaster, with inclines of 8.5 per cent, and 7 and 8 are completely blind.
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"You go down 5 per cent, you enter the Monumental with a 24 per cent gradient and you can't go all out because you run out of direction at the completely blind exit with the Madrid sky in front of you.
"To win, you need a driver and a car. We'll see what happens on September 13th."
Madring aims to avoid Las Vegas-style debut problems
Garcia Abad finished by saying they’re keen to learn from other Grand Prix to avoid a messy debut, such as Las Vegas in 2023 where a loose manhole cover caused concern.
The Madring will undergo extra testing, as he explained: "It's not mandatory, but we've requested to do it.
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"In a Grand Prix, the second year is more difficult than the first. In the first year, there's a lot of expectation, and if we're not up to par, fewer people will come to the second Grand Prix.
“We have to do things right and learn from any mistakes we might make so that the second year is even better.”
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Overview
Friday 17.07.26
Practice 1
11:30 AM
Practice 2
03:00 PM
Saturday 18.07.26
Practice 3
10:30 AM
Qualification
02:00 PM
Sunday 19.07.26
Race
01:00 PM
Friday 17.07.26
Practice 1
Fri 11:30 AM
Practice 2
Fri 03:00 PM
Saturday 18.07.26
Practice 3
Sat 10:30 AM
Qualification
Sat 02:00 PM
Sunday 19.07.26
Race
Sun 01:00 PM
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