Spanish Grand Prix organisers are ready to make modifications to the Madring circuit to boost overtaking opportunities for the 2027 Formula 1 season, following valuable recommendations from the FIA. The 5.4km circuit around Madrid's IFEMA fairgrounds debuted last weekend to high praise for its facilities and qualifying challenge, though the race itself lacked action.
While the tricky combination of medium to high-speed corners delivered an exciting qualifying session, the scarcity of clear overtaking spots frustrated teams and drivers across F1, F2, and F3 events. Drivers voiced major concerns during the Friday briefing regarding combined corner entries that made defensive driving too straightforward.
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SubscribeSpeaking exclusively to media after Sunday's race, managing director Luis Garcia Abad confirmed that his team is fully willing to implement layout adjustments. "Being honest with you, the FIA defined clearly which is the way to improve the track layout, and we will be open because we will have to reinstall the track for the next year," Abad said.
As part of a 10-year contract, organisers have ample room for adjustments since the northern half of the venue was constructed from scratch on open land. Abad emphasized that the infrastructure and space allow for significant improvements in collaboration with Formula One Management and the FIA.
Drivers Suggest Key Layout Adjustments
Lando Norris shared detailed recommendations after the grand prix, pointing out specific areas that could benefit from redesigns to enhance racing action. The McLaren driver noted that altering specific sections could create wide entry points similar to famous corners on other tracks.
"To me, it is not a great race track. It is great in qualifying, but a straight line from Turn 17 straight to Turn 20 would help, to have a much wider entry like Austin Turn 1 or Turn 10, a big hairpin," Norris explained.
Drivers heavily criticized the design of the Turn 5 chicane and surrounding corners where braking and steering must happen simultaneously. They argued that this technical geometry defeats the objective of wheel-to-wheel combat by heavily favoring the leading car.
Organisers remain optimistic that collaborative efforts with teams and governing bodies will successfully transform the venue into a more dynamic battleground for future championship rounds.