McLaren Suggest Ferrari Holds Early Advantage After Surprise Madrid Filming Day

McLaren team principal Andrea Stella has acknowledged that Ferrari could hold a slight advantage for September's inaugural Spanish Grand Prix in Madrid, following an unannounced filming day at the new circuit. Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton shared duties in the SF-26, completing the full 200 kilometers permitted under regulations for promotional purposes.

Why it matters:

The new 5.4-kilometer Madring layout, featuring roughly 20 corners around the IFEMA exhibition center, will host Formula 1 for the first time since the championship last raced in the Spanish capital at Jarama in 1981. Any early familiarity with an unknown venue offers potential benefits, and Stella admitted Ferrari now has baseline references using its current power unit that rivals lack.

The details:

• Ferrari's session caught the paddock off guard, with McLaren confirming they received no advance warning. Stella said images were only shared with other teams after the running concluded.
• Filming days are restricted to Pirelli demonstration tires and prohibit test equipment, while Stella described the surface as "horribly slippery" due to ongoing construction.
• Despite the limitations, Stella noted Ferrari will avoid starting from completely assumed data. Real-world references from the layout, even in poor conditions, provide a starting point simulation cannot fully replicate.
• The Madrid venue replaces the familiar Barcelona routine, raising the stakes for rapid adaptation when the grid arrives for the first time.

What's next:

Ferrari's early reconnaissance will face its real test when practice begins on the weekend of 13 September. McLaren believes any edge will be quickly erased after a few laps, but the surprise session highlights the intense battle for marginal gains ahead of a brand-new race weekend.