Rosberg blames Sainz for Madring overtaking issues: 'He's the ambassador!'
Photo: Race Pictures
10:01, 14 Sep
1 Comments
Henry Eccles is a freelance Formula 1 journalist for GPblog, covering breaking news, live race blogs, and features across the F1 calendar. Since joining in 2026, he has produced high-volume reporting on the sport’s biggest stories, alongside feature pieces including analysis and historical content.
2016 F1 world champion Nico Rosberg has said "we need to blame" Carlos Sainz over the lack of overtaking opportunities at the Spanish GP. Pointing to Sainz's role as the ambassador for the all-new Madring, Rosberg has called for immediate revisions to the circuit.
As many had predicted coming into the Spanish GP weekend, overtaking at the Madring proved to be virtually impossible throughout the 57-lap race, taking place on a narrow semi-street circuit surrounding Madrid's IFEMA conference centre and Real Madrid's Valdebebas training facility.
Following Kimi Antonelli's eighth win of the 2026 season in the Spanish capital, several drivers have criticised the spectacle created by the Madring - with Audi's Gabriel Bortoleto saying he "almost fell asleep" during the action, while Racing Bulls rookie Arvid Lindblad admitted it "wasn't the most exciting race."
Rosberg blames ambassador Sainz over Madring overtaking issues
ADVERTISEMENT
Photo: Race Pictures
Former Mercedes driver Rosberg clearly agrees, but has opted to take aim at the track's ambassador, Williams' Sainz, when asked during punditry on Sky F1 why design a track where overtaking has proved to be so difficult.
“Carlos Sainz was the ambassador, so we need to criticise Carlos Sainz,” Rosberg replied. “They need to revisit the track layout for next year and create one good overtaking opportunity. We need that on this track because it's just too hard to overtake.”
The 41-year-old then looked to Oscar Piastri's struggles in overtaking Alpine's Franco Colapinto during the Madrid race. Despite having put on a new set of tyres behind the Argentine, Piastri stayed behind Colapinto and finished a disappointing P8.
Rosberg added: “It was pretty shocking. Piastri on Colapinto, for example. Piastri had fresh tyres, he could not get past. And he was so much quicker. It's just super hard to overtake."
ADVERTISEMENT
Former head of strategy at Aston Martin, Bernie Collins, agreed on a need to change the Madring layout, arguing drivers should be consulted on track design even if it was obvious to most that overtaking opportunities would be limited at the Spanish GP.
“When you get the circuit all designed, you should go to them and ask the questions," Collins said. "But I don't think it necessarily needed a driver to say that at this stage, did it? We all got here, we all looked at the track and said, ‘That's going to be very difficult for overtaking.’
“So I think that there should have been something done to do that. Now they have been very open to say they will make changes going forward. They're happy to make changes going forward. That's not a permanent track. So one of those changes, I would hope, is that they're going to make some differences in overtaking if they can.”
Read also
ADVERTISEMENT
Don’t miss GPblog in Google
Mark us as a preferred source and our articles will appear more often at the top of Top Stories.
Add as a preferred / source on GoogleRead more about:
latest news
Azerbaijan Grand Prix
Overview
Thursday 24.09.26
Practice 1
08:30 AM
Practice 2
12:00 PM
Friday 25.09.26
Practice 3
08:30 AM
Qualification
12:00 PM
Saturday 26.09.26
Race
11:00 AM
Thursday 24.09.26
Practice 1
Thu 08:30 AM
Practice 2
Thu 12:00 PM
Friday 25.09.26
Practice 3
Fri 08:30 AM
Qualification
Fri 12:00 PM
Saturday 26.09.26
Race
Sat 11:00 AM
Times are in your local timezone
Rumors
Popular on GPBlog
1
F1 teams receive firm guarantee: otherwise some would have considered not traveling
2687 times read
2
Verstappen tips Antonelli for F1 title after Madrid win: 'I'm definitely not on a comeback!'
2647 times read
3
F1 Standings | Antonelli extends title lead, Hamilton suffers massive blow in Madrid
2439 times read
4
Hamilton fires back at Verstappen's 'Mickey Mouse racing' remark
1983 times read
F1-stand 2026
Season
| Pos. | Driver | Team | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | MercedesMER | 292 | |
2 | MercedesMER | 211 | |
3 | FerrariFER | 191 | |
4 | McLarenMCL | 186 | |
5 | FerrariFER | 167 | |
6 | Red Bull RacingRBR | 145 | |
7 | McLarenMCL | 120 | |
8 | Red Bull RacingRBR | 71 | |
9 | Racing BullsRCB | 59 | |
10 | AlpineALP | 41 |
Loading
