The F1 Spanish Grand Prix moves to Madrid’s Madring this weekend, marking Madrid’s first F1 race since the 1981 event at Jarama. The Barcelona circuit remains on the calendar, hosting a June race under a different event name. Motorsport.com’s pre-race report highlights five things to watch: operations at the new circuit, the title battle, stand-in driver arrangements, the track’s challenges and Ferrari’s intra-team rivalry.
Operations and preparations for the new circuit’s debut
Motorsport.com’s reporter encountered problems on arrival ahead of the race, including a lack of clarity over the route from the media centre to the paddock. This is also the second of back-to-back rounds, so teams must set up their equipment while also preparing for a new circuit; the report also mentions the treatment of the newly laid asphalt.
Antonelli arrives with a 66-point lead
After winning at Monza from 19th on the grid, Kimi Antonelli leads Mercedes team-mate George Russell by 66 points, with 10 rounds remaining in the season. Russell admits that closing the gap will be extremely difficult and will now aim to deliver the best possible performance at each round and win as many races as possible. With seven wins already, Antonelli will chase his eighth in Madrid.
Lawson and Tsunoda stand in for a third consecutive round
Isack Hadjar is still recovering from a wrist injury sustained in training during the summer break and will miss a third consecutive round. Liam Lawson continues to stand in at Red Bull, while Yuki Tsunoda continues to race for Racing Bulls. Tsunoda scored points at Monza, and Madrid will give him another opportunity to show his form.
Barriers and complex corners pose a challenge
There were reportedly 19 red flags during earlier F3 testing at Madring. The circuit combines public roads with purpose-built high-speed sections. Attention has focused on the banked La Monumental corner, as well as the radii, elevation changes and exit barriers of the corners before and after it. Race ambassador Carlos Sainz says some of the circuit’s features remind him of Jeddah, Baku and Macau. He expects drivers could encounter safety car periods and red flags, as well as yellow flags in qualifying, as they search for the limit.
How will Ferrari handle its intra-team rivalry?
After the start at Monza, Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc battled at the first chicane, with Hamilton running into the gravel and losing positions. Hamilton then called for clearer rules within the team, arguing that his championship position should be taken into account. Ferrari held a filming day at Madring in July, giving it some experience of the circuit; whether that can translate into an advantage, and how the team responds to the rivalry between its two drivers, will be key things to watch this weekend.
