Carlos Sainz has become the first driver to lap the Madring ahead of the Formula 1 Spanish Grand Prix in September, delivering his verdict on the new circuit.
Madrid offically joins the F1 calendar later this season, with the Madring making its much anticipated debut.
Although construction of the circuit and its facilities is continuing, the asphalt is now laid, allowing for a lap of the new track.
Carlos Sainz has become the first driver to lap the new circuit, the Spaniard born in Madrid.
After his run, Sainz praised F1’s new addition.
“I really enjoyed that,” he said in a video by F1 showcasing the run.
“I just remembered the fun I have when I drive a car around a new track.
“Honestly, it’s impressive, because I didn’t expect to have so much fun. I didn’t expect it to be so flowing, so wide, where you can actually lean on the car for so long, especially that open section, and I just realised how fast we were going. If we were going fast in this, imagine it in a Formula 1 car.”
Carlos Sainz details new Madring
Sainz praised the circuit’s layout, including a banked turn that will become a key characteristic.
“You go from a very tight, more like a street-style area, to suddenly a blind corner where you see absolutely nothing,” he added.
“Then suddenly, the track opens up, and it’s like you go through a screen and into a different world. I love that the track has two completely separated, different parts, and you go from a street part to a fully open wide part.”
“You have two main straights, which is going to create plenty of overtaking, especially with this generation of cars where the battery is going to be tight going onto another long straight,” said Sainz.
“Then, even on that infield part, you are going to have spots to overtake. The momentum allows you to follow closely, because you can choose different lines and put your car in clean air.”
A verdict on the Madring will likely only be delivered once F1 cars make their debut in September, but the first impressions look to be in.
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