Chandhok: New Madrid Circuit Will Be a 'Wild Ride'

The new Madrid circuit, known as the Madring, is expected to deliver one of the most chaotic races of the 2026 F1 season. Karun Chandhok, speaking on The F1 Show, called the track "pretty wild" and predicted it will be one of the toughest tests drivers face all year.

Why it matters:

The Spanish Grand Prix moves from Barcelona to Madrid for the first time, with a layout designed to encourage overtaking. But Chandhok warns that the mix of street sections and high-speed corners brings significant risk, meaning the race could be decided by survival rather than speed.

The details:

• The 5.47km circuit has 20 corners, including a tight stadium section and a fast, sweeping final sector.
• Three DRS zones and a long main straight should create overtaking chances, but tricky braking zones and elevation changes could cause mistakes.
• Drivers have raised concerns about narrow sections and blind corners, making qualifying especially important.
• With limited practice time and a green track surface, early laps could be unpredictable, with safety cars likely.

What's next:

Teams get just one hour of practice before qualifying. Chandhok believes the Madring could produce a spectacular race, but also expose the limits of the cars and drivers. "It's going to be a wild ride," he said. "Buckle up."