Carlos Sainz completes first lap of new Madrid GP circuit

Formula 1 driver Carlos Sainz has become the first to complete a lap of the new Madrid Grand Prix circuit, offering an initial preview of the track ahead of its debut on the championship calendar in September. The Williams driver, a Madrid native and an official ambassador for the event, drove a road car on the partially completed 5.4-kilometer layout surrounding the IFEMA exhibition district and Valdebebas area.

The circuit, which remains under construction with a final FIA inspection scheduled for later this month, is designed as a hybrid street circuit. Sainz described a layout that transitions from tight, street-style sections to a faster, purpose-built area. He noted the opening sector features blind corners that suddenly open into wide sections, creating a dramatic change in environment. The track will feature 22 corners and host a 57-lap race.

Sainz highlighted the circuit's signature element, a heavily banked right-hand turn named La Monumental. The corner features a 24-degree incline sustained for approximately 500 meters, making it the longest corner on the Formula 1 calendar. Sainz said the banking, combined with a blind entry where drivers initially see only the sky,...