Max Verstappen has warned that the brand‑new Madrén Formula 1 venue could prove to be a "car killer," a sentiment echoed by several drivers who anticipate a chaotic Spanish Grand Prix weekend. The circuit, built around a high‑speed layout with walls that hug the racing line, features a sweeping, heavily banked corner in the middle sector that has become the talk of the paddock.
Because of the track's unforgiving nature, Friday's practice sessions—scheduled for 12:30 pm and again at 4:00 pm and broadcast live on Sky Sports F1—are expected to carry extra weight. Drivers will need every minute to learn the limits of a circuit that leaves little room for error.
"It's a tough track," Verstappen explained. "When I'm behind the wheel I get a feeling that's a bit like Jeddah in certain sections. Jeddah is quicker overall, but the proximity of the barriers feels very similar." He continued, "When the F3 cars were testing here there were a lot of shunts, so this is not a forgiving place. The layout is tricky, the kerbs are aggressive and we have to run over a few of them, which is never a strong point for our car, but we'll do what we can." When pressed on whether the circuit could be a "car killer," Verstappen replied, "From what I've seen so far it probably is, but you just have to stay out of the walls and find the best possible feel in the car.
Confidence on a street‑type circuit makes a huge difference." Other drivers have weighed in as well. George Russell insisted he has a solution to Kimi Antonelli's rapid pace despite his teammate's dominance in the title fight.
Charles Leclerc took responsibility for a clash with Lewis Hamilton at Monza, a discussion that continued ahead of the Spanish Grand Prix in Madrid. Carlos Sainz predicted a race peppered with safety‑car periods and red flags, while Ferrari team principal Frédéric Vasseur promised a stronger comeback after a disappointing showing at Monza.
The new Madrén circuit was put to the test during a two‑day Formula 3 trial last month, during which 19 red‑flag incidents were recorded, most of them caused by crashes in various sections of the track. Williams driver Carlos Sainz, who contributed input during the circuit's design phase, described the layout as "different to what we're used to" and said, "Realistically, we'll really understand the track in tomorrow's FP1.
It looks different, it has character, it's charismatic, with many varied corners." Qualifying is expected to be decisive because overtaking will be extremely difficult; most corners appear to offer only a single viable racing line. Consequently, drivers will be eager to push the limits on Saturday afternoon, even if it means taking considerable risks.
Pierre Gasly, who shocked the grid by taking pole in the previous weekend's event, believes the circuit will generate "huge adrenaline" for the participants. "The layout is something I've never seen before—crazy, blind corners, massive banking," the Alpine driver said.
"It took me a few simulation laps to get my head around it. It's very twisty and challenging, and I expect a hectic weekend with plenty of mistakes. We'll have to stay on the right side of it." For the championship contenders, avoiding the barriers will be crucial to preserving points.
After his spectacular victory at Monza, Kimi Antonelli leads the Drivers' Championship by 66 points over George Russell, with Lewis Hamilton 76 points behind and Lando Norris 96 points adrift. Russell described the circuit as "arguably the most risky on the calendar," noting its high‑speed corners reminiscent of Jeddah and its razor‑thin margins.
"You have high‑speed sections, then you have corners similar to Baku where you brake hard while turning, making tyre lock‑ups easy. If you lock up, you end up straight into the wall." Hamilton added his perspective, drawing parallels with the curbs at Montreal, where Mercedes performed strongly but the track offered more straight‑line sections.
"It's a massively challenging circuit. Of all the new tracks I've visited, this one and perhaps Saudi are the closest in terms of difficulty to find the right lines and get the car settled," he said.
The weekend schedule is packed. On Friday, September 11, the day begins with a Formula 3 practice session at 10:00 am, followed by a Formula 2 practice at 12:00 pm, then the first Spanish Grand Prix practice at 12:30 pm. The afternoon sees F2 qualifying at 12:55 pm, a team bosses' press conference at 2:40 pm, a second F1 practice at 3:45 pm, F3 qualifying at 5:20 pm, and the F1 Show at 6:20 pm.
Saturday, September 12, kicks off with an F3 sprint at 10:00 am, the third F1 practice at 11:30 am, an F2 sprint at 1:10 pm, a build‑up to qualifying at 2:15 pm, the crucial Spanish Grand Prix qualifying at 3:00 pm, an F3 feature race at 4:55 pm, and Ted's Qualifying Notebook at 6:00 pm. Sunday, September 13, features an F3 feature race at 8:40 am, the F2 feature race at 10:20 am, a Grand Prix build‑up at 12:30 pm, the main race at 2:00 pm, the chequered flag ceremony at 4:00 pm, and a post‑race reaction segment at 5:00 pm, with the qualifying session also available on Sky Sports Main Event. Overall, the Madrén circuit promises a weekend of high drama, with drivers needing to balance aggression and caution. The combination of narrow walls, steep banking, and a mix of high‑speed and tight corners means that confidence, precision, and a bit of luck will be essential for anyone hoping to emerge with valuable points.
The race will be streamed live on Sky Sports F1, with the option to watch via NOW without a long‑term contract, allowing fans to experience the excitement of a potentially "car‑killing" track in real time.