Leclerc says Madrid's La Monumental will 'reward the brave'

Charles Leclerc says Madrid's new Madring circuit will demand serious bravery from the Formula 1 grid, with the fearsome La Monumental corner poised to become a standout challenge. After sampling the unfinished track in July, the Ferrari driver praised the venue and predicted it will reward committed drivers next month.

Why it matters:

Madrid is preparing to host its inaugural Grand Prix on a new city layout, and first impressions from a top-tier driver carry real weight. A corner as extreme as La Monumental — featuring a steep bank and prolonged high G-forces — could shake up the order and separate the daring from the cautious.

The details:

• La Monumental: The 547-meter banked right-hander features a 24% gradient, the maximum permitted by the FIA. Drivers will face roughly 4G for approximately six seconds, making it the longest banked corner on the calendar.
• Not flat out: Leclerc dismissed comparisons to Zandvoort's final corner, noting that La Monumental is not taken flat out. He suggested it is closer to Zandvoort's Turn 3, but executed at higher speed with greater commitment.
• Rough conditions: During his July filming day alongside Lewis Hamilton, Leclerc ran laps behind a road car while bulldozers and dust still littered the 5.416km circuit, making conditions far from representative.
• City circuit appeal: Leclerc emphasized his affection for city tracks and welcomed Madring's full-commitment nature, though he admitted uncertainty about whether the layout will suit his style.

What's next:

The true test awaits when the field arrives for the race weekend and drivers attempt to find the limit in qualifying. Leclerc expects the completed grandstands to amplify the atmosphere, potentially cementing the corner's status as an iconic spectacle if the racing lives up to its billing.