Carlos Sainz has talked at length about his role in the development of Madrid’s brand-new street circuit, which will make its debut on the Formula 1 calendar next year.
The Spaniard, a native of the capital city, holds an ambassadorial role for the so-called ‘Madring’, and was present for the beginning of its construction at a special event in April.
At 3.3 miles and 22 corners, the circuit will encompass a number of the city’s landmarks, and will be a mix of street and purpose-built areas, creating a unique layout, which also includes a banked area, promising a diverse challenge for the drivers.
Sainz has revealed that his role is very much a hands-on one, and that he is trying to ensure that the circuit is as good as can be for both the drivers and fans.
“Yeah, I’m an ambassador, so I’m aware of the track, where they’re building it, and now I’m trying to have a bit of an effect and influence in some corners to make sure they produce the right amount of overtaking and show,” he told media including Motorsport Week.
“I don’t think… maybe I’m a bit late to the advice for the first year, but hopefully we will progress and we will make not only a good event, which I’m sure it will be, but also a good show on the racing side.
“As modern F1 tracks nowadays, it’s important when they come in new to the calendar to have a bit of character and a bit of personality.”
Sainz stressed the need to guarantee a circuit that will have some significant overtaking opportunities, something that is often lacking in many street circuits, and is keen to make a few alterations to the layout will give the circuit its own personality, to give it a unique and positive status.
“For me, I don’t really care how the whole track is designed,” he said. “Obviously, the track itself is going to have a very characteristic corner with 24 per cent banking, very long combined.
“That’s going to be the main character of the track. It’s not in an open area where you can design an F1 track the way you want. There’s going to be another area. It’s going to be more of a street circuit vibe.
“But for me, where I’m trying to help is in the two main overtaking zones to make sure that the braking zone and the approaching of the cars and the way the corner opens up and the braking is wide enough and is big enough to produce overtaking.
“I need to see if we can change or adapt a couple of things that I’ve given advice on, but I’m definitely at least trying to make sure that whatever the track is, as long as there’s overtaking, look at Baku. There’s no corner really in Baku that is enjoyable from a driver’s standpoint, but if it has a long straight and it creates a good show, everyone loves Baku.
“It’s the same what we are. Obviously, with Madrid, there’s going to be a bit more character to it, but it needs to have overtaking.”
Madrid ‘capable’ of bringing the ‘vibe’ of the Americas
The Madrid Grand Prix, which is slated to be held on September 13, is the only new addition to the 2026 calendar, effectively replacing Imola, which makes way from the schedule.
A number of drivers stated over the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix weekend that it was important for legacy circuits such as Imola to remain on future calendars.
But for Sainz, he is confident the Madring will become a classic in the future, and spoke of his hope that it will bring the feel and atmosphere that the popular circuits across the Americas have managed to create.
“Obviously, I’m a big fan of having a track in Madrid, as you’ve pointed out, but as long as the tracks have character, it’s still a track in Europe,” he said.
“For me, it’s important for the tracks to have character. Austin is the best example. No one complains about going to Austin because Austin has character and it’s going to become an F1 classic in the future.
“I have nothing against having new tracks and new venues, as long as the tracks have character and have a personality to it. Regarding Europe, this is a business.
“You either adapt and create up to modern standards events, which I’m not saying F1 tracks in Europe cannot create, but I also understand the point of view of Stefano [Domenicali] on wanting to keep growing the business and making sure to create events that are up to modern F1 standards, like the Mexicos, the Miamis, etc.
“I think that’s where Madrid is capable of bringing that kind of vibe and event to Europe, in a city like Madrid. Hopefully, it’s one of the first European races to bring some of the states, Miami, Mexicos, to Europe.”
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