MADRID : Organisers of Formula One’s new Spanish Grand Prix venue expressed confidence on Tuesday that Madrid’s Madring circuit will be ready for its debut race in September despite significant construction work still being underway.
The circuit staged a public unveiling event featuring the raising of Spain’s largest national flag at the first corner, speeches from government and project officials, and an appearance by Williams driver Carlos Sainz, who serves as an ambassador for the track.
The 5.47-kilometre circuit, located around the IFEMA exhibition centre in northeastern Madrid, combines urban and open sections and includes two long straights as well as a signature 24% banked corner known as “Monumental”, where cars could reach speeds of up to 340 kph.
“It’s a circuit that has a bit of everything: fast, slow, an urban part, a much more open part,” Sainz said. “It’s different.”
Although the track surface has already been laid, work continues around the venue. Permanent pitlane garages remain under construction, temporary grandstands have yet to be installed and the paddock area is still taking shape.
Madring Chief Operations Officer Carlos Jimenez said the project remained on schedule despite facing lengthy administrative procedures.
“We are in our 11th month of construction and the permits took 12,” Jimenez told Reuters.
“Now the most complicated part, even apart from the track, has been done. In the south, the track is done. In the north, the plot of land is going to be finished in three weeks.”
Construction of temporary grandstands and hospitality facilities is expected to begin within weeks and take around six weeks to complete.
Summer heat could pose an additional challenge, with temperatures in Madrid often reaching levels that restrict outdoor work.
“We might need to work during the nights,” Jimenez said. “So we have reserved buffer time and we can do night shifts because the licence for construction allows us to work 24 hours.”
The FIA has already conducted two inspection visits, with a final review scheduled for mid-August. Officials plan to water-blast the track surface to improve grip before Formula Three cars carry out test runs.
Electronic infrastructure, including lighting systems and illumination for the tunnel section that passes beneath a highway, is expected to be completed in July, while the fan zone should be ready by the end of August.
The final milestone will come on Aug. 30, when Madrid city authorities carry out their inspection of the completed facility.
Madrid will host Formula One from Sept. 11-13, becoming the second Spanish venue on the calendar alongside Barcelona-Catalunya and bringing the sport back to the capital for the first time since Jarama last staged a Grand Prix in 1981.
