Organisers of System 1’s Spanish Grand Prix in Madrid are able to make tweaks to the Madring circuit to spice up overtaking for 2027, and have already acquired suggestions from the FIA.
The 5.4km circuit round Madrid’s IFEMA fairgrounds, which made its competitors debut final weekend, was praised by drivers and groups for its services and its driving problem. However whereas the difficult mixture of medium to high-speed corners delivered a high-stakes qualifying session, the shortage of clear overtaking alternatives led to a scarcity of motion all through the weekend, together with throughout F1, F2 and F3.
The primary overtaking possibility was purported to be the Flip 5 chicane following the circuit’s longest straight, however the nook’s awkward design made that troublesome. Voicing their suggestions in Friday evening’s drivers’ briefing, drivers have been significantly annoyed by the variety of mixed nook entries, the place automobiles are having to brake and steer on the identical time, which has made it straight-forward for the automotive in entrance to defend. Additionally they felt the circuit’s pitlane was far too lengthy to entice groups to attempt completely different pitstop methods.
Talking solely to Motorsport.com after Sunday’s race, the occasion’s managing director Luis Garcia Abad stated his workforce was prepared to make the mandatory modifications to enhance the on-track spectacle, and that he had already acquired suggestions from the FIA for the 2027 occasion.
“Being sincere with you, the FIA outlined clearly which is the way in which to enhance the monitor format, and we will likely be open as a result of we should reinstall the monitor for the subsequent 12 months,” Abad advised Motorsport.com.
“I actually consider that the drivers loved qualifying lots. However for certain we are going to attempt to make an enchancment for subsequent 12 months.”
Lando Norris advised adjustments that may assist overtaking
Picture by: Sam Bagnall / Sutton Pictures through Getty Pictures
Final weekend’s race was the primary of a 10-year contract. And with the northern half of the circuit being designed from a clean sheet of paper on empty land, Abad vowed there may be loads of scope to make vital adjustments.
“We have now the area, we now have a venue, we now have the services, we now have the capability to do it,” he promised.
“I am certain that FOM, FIA, and ourselves, we are going to attempt. If we will enhance one thing, we are going to do it.”
Talking after the race, world champion Lando Norris made a couple of suggestions.
“To me, it’s not an amazing racetrack. It’s nice in qualifying, however a straight line from Flip 17 straight to Flip 20 [would help], to have a a lot wider entry like Austin Flip 1 or Flip 10, a giant hairpin. You’ll create significantly better alternatives for everybody and also you’ll have the ability to benefit from the race.
“There are some easy adjustments and possibly some trickier ones, like Flip 5, 6, 7. It’s exhausting to know precisely what’s the neatest thing. The actual fact you must flip and brake [at the same time] mainly defeats the entire object of racing.”
Learn Additionally:
We would like your opinion!
What would you prefer to see on Motorsport.com?
– The Motorsport.com Workforce
