The MadRing racetrack is unlike other urban circuits.

      Typically, modern urban circuits do not look very attractive and lack a variety of configurations, just think of the Singapore circuit, but there, in Jeddah and Las Vegas, the races take place at night under the lights, which certainly adds a special flair to the events on the track.

      However, everywhere there are still the same 90-degree turns, a couple of hairpins, and a practically flat terrain. But the MadRing racetrack being built in the capital of Spain is completely different. Journalists from The Race visited and shared their impressions.

      First of all, special attention should be paid to La Monumental, the 12th turn of the track: it features an impressive banking of up to 10 meters high and a 24 percent incline of the track surface (about 13.5 degrees), where drivers will experience forces exceeding 4g.

      “The turn is really impressive, as we will be entering it at a very high speed, around 180-200 km/h,” explained Carlos Sainz, a Williams driver serving as an ambassador for MadRing. “I think we will take this entire turn at full throttle, and in the next left turn, there will be opportunities for overtaking.

      The banking will likely allow the car to be positioned higher or lower on the track if you want to exit the turbulence zone while chasing an opponent, but you can also stay close behind to take advantage of the slipstream. But it’s not just about the La Monumental turn – the entire second sector is quite organic and fast. It’s great when there are such sections on an urban track.”

      We have repeatedly quoted both representatives of the racetrack management and city authorities, who promised that the construction would be completed on time. The same is said by Luis Garcia Abad, the CEO of MadRing: “We are strictly following the plan, and we have never had any particular worries about this because everything is very well organized.

      The most challenging part was coordinating our activities with the normal operations of the IFEMA exhibition center, as we had to consider various events taking place, and we had to halt construction work.”

      The pit lane at MadRing is long and spacious, with plenty of room in the garages where the teams will be located. Moreover, if a 12th team appears in Formula 1 in the future, there are already boxes for it.

      Everyone remembers the unpleasant incident that occurred in Las Vegas during the first race weekend when there were problems with a drainage system hatch that damaged Carlos Sainz's Ferrari. But there will be no such issues at the Madrid track, as all new engineering communications have been laid out to avoid such complications, and the old ones have been relocated, although this was not an easy task.

      As Jimenez said, “It took time; we spent a long time making plans and preparing – it took more time than the actual construction work. Just preparing the project documentation and obtaining all the permits took 11 or 12 months.”

      The first layers of asphalt have already been fully laid, and work on the infrastructure continues – fencing is being installed, grandstands are being built, and fan zones are being constructed. At the same time, in Madrid, they want the track to also feature a unique color of asphalt, so a reddish pigment may be added to it. However, a final decision has not yet been made.

      The inaugural Spanish Grand Prix will take place at the new Madrid racetrack on September 13.