Madrid’s F1 Debut Is Just Weeks Away, But Its Brand-New Circuit Isn’t Finished Yet

For the first time, Formula One is headed to Madrid, which will be hosting the 2026 Spanish Grand Prix at the city’s brand new circuit, Madring. With the race now less than a month away, a drone shot of the circuit shows the ongoing work that is expected to be completed ahead of the race weekend scheduled for September 11–13.

The track in question was ready since Ferrari conducted a filming day at the 5.416 km, 22-corner circuit last month. However, construction of the grandstands and the pit building still seems to be ongoing, as seen in the drone footage. The deadline for that is not known, but there could be some considerable work to catch up on in case of a delay.

Madrid took over Grand Prix hosting duties from Barcelona’s Circuit de Catalunya, which was the official venue for the Spanish GP that hosted its first F1 race in September 1991. Madrid reportedly offered F1 around €48 million per year for the rights, almost double what Barcelona was paying.

Madrid boasts the title of “first major European capital” to host a Grand Prix, meaning accessibility shouldn’t be an issue for fans traveling to the venue using various modes of transport. Tickets for the event have been sold out, according to a report by GP Fans.

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Image Credit: Scuderia Ferrari on X

The general manager of the Spanish Grand Prix, Garcia Abad, confirmed this a few weeks ago, despite construction still being in progress. He said:

“We’ve been technically sold out for weeks.

“There’s still time. The final capacity is determined at the end of the race. The circuit can hold many more people, but we want access to an experience to enjoy; it’s an event from morning till night.”

Ferrari’s filming day run was the first time an F1 car was unleashed on the circuit, and Abad said the track construction was finished well in time. He added:

“We’ve delivered results, not just words. The construction was finished at the end of May, as stipulated in the contract. We did the test because we had made a commitment to Ferrari.

“Nobody believed in it last November, but they did. It was crucial because it was the test to ensure that everything designed, everything technical, worked as expected.”

Although it seems there is still plenty of work to be completed before Madring is Spanish GP-ready, Abad’s dedication to meeting deadlines suggests it won’t be long before the circuit is race-ready.