The first engines haven’t yet roared, but the political machinery and construction equipment are now in full gear at the site of Formula 1’s ambitious new Madrid Grand Prix circuit — or “Madring,” as it is being dubbed.
After months of speculation and visible inertia, the Spanish capital’s long-term replacement for Barcelona’s iconic Circuit de Catalunya has finally broken ground. Whether it will cross the finish line in time for its 2026 debut, however, remains to be seen.
For Formula 1, this move represents more than a simple venue swap. Madrid is being positioned as a crown jewel of Liberty Media’s modernisation drive — a glittering urban backdrop to rival Singapore or Miami, drawing in younger fans, sponsors, and city-centre glamour.
But while the race has a long-term contract in hand and a coveted slot on the F1 calendar, it comes with a conspicuous asterisk: subject to FIA circuit homologation. That phrase, while common in the sport’s lexicon, now hangs over the Madrid project like a dark cloud.
Concerns have been steadily mounting. Earlier this month, Germany’s Bild newspaper cited unnamed insiders who “doubt the street circuit will be ready in time for its planned premiere.” The article struck a chord. After all, F1 is littered with examples of grand urban dreams running aground on the rocks of local bureaucracy, engineering setbacks, or overambition. “If it doesn’t work out, Imola is the first alternative candidate,” Bild added. That fallback option has since been publicly endorsed by Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali. “For 2026, Imola is our first reserve,” he confirmed. “If for any reason a venue were to fall through, we will return to Imola with our cars and our drivers.”
Such remarks, while diplomatic, betray a certain nervousness behind the scenes. Imola, with its storied history and existing FIA Grade 1 licence, is the safe pair of hands — not the flashy, brand-friendly urban spectacle F1 craves, but a proven performer nonetheless. It speaks volumes that contingency planning is already being spoken of in the same breath as Madrid’s debut.
Yet, this week brought the first concrete signs — quite literally — of progress. Spanish media were invited to inspect the construction site on Thursday, where they witnessed a flurry of initial activity. According to Marca, some 85 workers and 50 machines are currently on site. That figure is set to balloon to nearly 500 as the months wear on. Excavators, trucks, and power trowels are now part of the landscape, replacing months of silence with the hum of progress.
Luis García Abad, the general manager of the Madring project — and no stranger to the sport, having once managed Fernando Alonso — struck an optimistic tone. “May 30,” he said without hesitation when asked about the expected completion date. That gives organisers just weeks before the expected June race slot. “We’ve started earlier than we thought,” he added. “It’s a complicated project, involving about 70,000 square metres of asphalt. But if you compare it to other types of construction, like any road or highway, it won’t be that big of a deal.”
Perhaps. But public optimism masks the brutal tightrope that major sporting infrastructure often walks. García Abad confirmed that full FIA approval will only arrive in the week of the Grand Prix — a procedure he described as “normal,” but which inevitably carries risk. Two further FIA inspections are due to take place during the construction phase. Any major failure could see Madrid miss the start lights before they’ve even flicked to green.
Adding to the technical complexity is a unique twist: the circuit is exploring the use of coloured asphalt, potentially red-tinted for aesthetic and environmental reasons. “We haven’t given up on pigment,” said García Abad. “Red heats up less than black, but it also has less grip. We’ll have to study everything carefully.” While the idea may please designers and sustainability consultants, it’s unlikely to sway race engineers concerned about tyre performance and surface temperatures in a city known for its summer heat.
With F1 undergoing an era of rapid expansion — Las Vegas, Qatar, and even talk of South Africa — Madrid is part of a broader gamble on spectacle and accessibility. Yet as the bulldozers roll and political capital is spent, a familiar lesson hangs in the air: prestige doesn’t lay tarmac. And come 2026, either Madrid delivers on its promise — or it watches from the sidelines as Imola steals its thunder.
Main Image; Extension Chords, via X
