Madrid’s freshly built street circuit is heading for revisions after its opening Formula 1 weekend left drivers unimpressed with the racing itself, even as the venue earned applause for its atmosphere and ambition.
Several drivers found the contest short on drama. Williams driver Alex Albon called the event dull, and Audi’s Gabriel Bortoleto admitted he nearly dozed off behind the wheel. Reigning champion Lando Norris, who lost out on a win due to a poorly timed virtual safety car, felt one stretch of the layout added nothing and wanted a straighter run into a hairpin instead of the current sequence of turns.
Team principals, however, took a more forgiving stance. Ferrari’s Frederic Vasseur acknowledged the passing difficulties but described the overall weekend as fantastic, crediting Madrid for its hospitality and execution. Mercedes boss Toto Wolff compared the track’s flavor to Macau or Monaco, calling it one of the strongest debut events he has witnessed, while noting organisers already understand adjustments are needed to encourage more wheel to wheel battles.
Race winner Kimi Antonelli echoed driver frustrations, explaining the tight nature of the corners discouraged overtaking attempts because contact felt almost inevitable, leaving cars strung out once the race got underway.
Beyond the racing, spectators voiced complaints online about limited sightlines, unfinished amenities, and having to sit on bare ground in certain viewing areas, issues organisers acknowledge stemmed from the tight construction schedule.
Circuit chief Luis Garcia Abad, once Fernando Alonso’s manager, confirmed the layout will be reassembled before next season and that governing bodies have already outlined areas for improvement. He expressed confidence that with the venue’s space and infrastructure already established, meaningful changes to boost overtaking are achievable ahead of the 2027 event.
