The 2026 Spanish Grand Prix at Madring is approaching, and Madrid’s new Method 1 circuit has acquired an encouraging evaluation after two days of Method 3 operating. Bruno del Pino, the Spanish MP Motorsport driver and nephew of Pedro de la Rosa, accomplished 93 laps of the observe and described an uncommon hybrid structure combining traits of Monaco and Jeddah, whereas additionally highlighting the potential issue of overtaking.
Madring is finishing its closing preparations to welcome Method 1. After Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton accomplished Ferrari’s filming day on the new Madrid circuit, Method 3 was given the chance to run there over two days on 24 and 25 August. Bruno del Pino, the one Spanish driver within the class, then shared his impressions after experiencing the circuit for the primary time from the cockpit of his MP Motorsport automobile.
The decision was largely optimistic forward of a Spanish Grand Prix that may give Method 1 groups and drivers a wholly new problem. Madring’s combination of enclosed sections, partitions and sooner corners creates a really completely different setting from a traditional everlasting circuit.
Bruno del Pino compares Madring to Monaco and Jeddah
Bruno del Pino admitted that his first impression of the structure had been unsure earlier than he really skilled it.
“Once I noticed the circuit in images, I had blended emotions about it, however once I tried it within the simulator, I actually appreciated it,” Bruno del Pino advised Cadena SER.
The Spanish driver sees Madring as a mix of two very completely different Method 1 venues: Monaco and Jeddah. As soon as contained in the automobile, nevertheless, the impression grew to become significantly extra intense.
“In particular person, from contained in the cockpit, it’s spectacular: the partitions are extraordinarily shut and you’ll’t think about what the primary few laps really feel like,” Bruno del Pino admitted, describing driving the Madrid circuit as a pleasure.
Ferrari already gained its personal early expertise of Madring by its filming day, throughout which Charles Leclerc delivered his first evaluation of the Madrid circuit. The Method 3 operating supplied one other beneficial indication of how the structure feels when pushed at aggressive speeds.
Madring overtaking might show troublesome regardless of F1 vitality administration
Though Bruno del Pino considers Madring a extremely pleasing circuit to drive, he doesn’t count on it to be notably beneficial for overtaking. The late braking factors depart comparatively little time for a following driver to realize the metres required to try a transfer.
“It received’t be a observe like Spa or Jeddah, the place you possibly can overtake. In F1, with the vitality administration, they’ll have slightly extra room to manoeuvre, however in Method 3 we see it as a practice: for those who’re not proper behind the automobile forward, it is going to be very troublesome. You brake very late and have little or no time to realize these metres you want,” Bruno del Pino defined.
The Spanish driver believes overtaking in Method 1 will due to this fact require dedication and identifies Max Verstappen as notably effectively suited to that problem.
“It’s a circuit for the driving force with probably the most character; for me, it might be Max Verstappen.”
With groups dealing with the venue for the primary time, these racing traits will develop into one of many central questions when Method 1 arrives for the 2026 Spanish Grand Prix at Madring.
Why Madring’s Monumental nook might be bodily demanding
One of many circuit’s defining options is the Monumental nook. From a spectator’s perspective, its size and substantial banking make it visually placing, however Bruno del Pino defined that the expertise from inside a high-downforce single-seater is completely different.
“It’s spectacular for the followers as a result of it’s very lengthy and has a variety of banking, however for us, with a lot downforce, it’s virtually a straight,” the MP Motorsport driver defined.
The primary laps are nonetheless notably placing as a result of the driving force can not instantly see the place the nook finishes.
“On the primary few laps it does make an impression, as a result of you possibly can’t see the tip, solely the wall. However bodily it’s brutal. You are feeling it lots in your arms and neck, as a result of it’s just like the one at Zandvoort however for much longer.”
That mixture of sustained load and restricted visibility makes the Monumental one in every of Madring’s most distinctive challenges, each visually and bodily. Bruno del Pino accomplished 93 laps in the course of the two days of testing, giving him in depth first-hand expertise of the forces generated by the nook.
Bruno del Pino identifies one Madring security space to enhance
Regardless of his optimistic total impression, Bruno del Pino did establish one space of the circuit that he believes might be improved earlier than Method 1 arrives. His concern centres on Flip 11, instantly earlier than the banked Monumental part, the place the out there run-off leaves little margin for errors.
“There must be slightly extra run-off, for instance at Flip 11 earlier than the Monumental, as a result of any small mistake there comes at a excessive value,” Bruno del Pino mentioned.
The Method 3 driver famous that a number of incidents occurred at that nook throughout testing and believes further asphalt run-off would give drivers a higher probability of recovering from minor errors.
“There have been a variety of crashes at that nook in the course of the exams and I’d add slightly extra asphalt so that each mistake isn’t routinely punished.”
Regardless of that concern, Bruno del Pino stays satisfied that spectators will significantly get pleasure from watching Method 1 vehicles sort out Madring when the Spanish Grand Prix takes place in Madrid in just below two weeks. After Ferrari’s earlier operating and the newest two-day Method 3 take a look at, the brand new circuit is quickly transferring from simulation and preparation into the ultimate stage earlier than its first Method 1 race weekend.
Sep 2, 2026
