The inaugural Spanish Grand Prix on the Madring has drawn heavy criticism from F1 followers and drivers over the restricted overtaking alternatives on the slender circuit. Its structure reportedly made the race a boring spectacle for a lot of, and now even Spain’s Minister of Transport and Sustainable Mobility, Óscar Puente, has weighed in. Puente did not maintain again, describing the occasion as “an absolute dud.”
Puente has stored his criticism constructive, evaluating the Spanish GP with the Monaco GP, which can also be identified for providing restricted overtaking alternatives. Monaco’s slender metropolis streets have turn out to be more and more difficult as F1 vehicles have grown bigger over the many years, whereas considerably widening the roads is just not a practical choice.
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Regardless of Monaco’s repute for restricted overtaking, this 12 months’s race featured 10 overtakes throughout all the race, based on a social media put up from Autosport. By comparability, the Madrid race final weekend noticed simply 4 overtakes.
Spanish Grand Prix, Sunday Madrid: Motorsport: FIA F1 Grand Prix of Spain, System 1 2026on September, 13, 2026, (Photograph by Hoch Zwei)Start01 NORRIS Lando (gbr), McLaren F1 Group MCL40, action12 KIMI ANTONELLI Andrea (ita), Mercedes AMG F1 Group W17, action44 HAMILTON Lewis (gbr), Scuderia Ferrari SF-26, motion
Puente expressed his view whereas replying to a person on X who acknowledged that the sporting facet of the occasion suffered probably the most. The minister wrote:
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“With out moving into political controversies, the Grand Prix itself has been an absolute dud, and that is primarily on account of a circuit design that makes overtaking inconceivable. It is a Monaco 2 however quicker. A little bit prepare of vehicles from begin to end and strikes completely by technique.”
Sin entrar en polémicas políticas el Gran Premio en sí ha sido un auténtico truño, y ello debido principalmente a un diseño de circuito que hace imposible adelantar. Es un Mónaco 2 pero más rápido. Trenecito de coches de principio a fin y movimientos exclusivamente por… https://t.co/N8R0METPk3
Nico Rosberg Targets Carlos Sainz
A number of F1 figures have spoken out in regards to the Madring, with many calling for modifications to the monitor for the 2027 race. Motorbiscuit quoted former F1 champion and Sky Sports activities F1 presenter Nico Rosberg, who stated Williams driver Carlos Sainz wanted to be criticized for the shortcomings of the Madrid GP.
Sainz, who was unable to complete the race on account of technical points in his Williams FW48 F1 automotive, was closely concerned in selling the Madring. After the race, when Sky Sports activities F1’s Simon Lazenby talked about the problem of overtaking, Rosberg responded by suggesting that Sainz needs to be held accountable for it. He stated:
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“Carlos Sainz was the ambassador, so we have to criticize Carlos Sainz.”
He added:
“They should revisit the monitor structure for subsequent 12 months and create one good overtaking alternative. We want that on this monitor cuz it is simply too arduous to overhaul.”
On the purpose of whether or not drivers needs to be included within the circuit design course of, Sky F1’s Bernie Collins stated:
“I believe that we at the very least in all probability once you get the circuit all designed, it’s best to go to them and ask the questions. However I do not suppose it essentially wanted a driver to say that at this stage, did it? You realize, all of us received right here.
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“All of us regarded on the monitor and stated that is going to be very troublesome for overtaking. So I believe that there ought to have been one thing executed to do this. Now they’ve been very open to say they are going to make modifications going ahead.
“They’re pleased to make modifications going ahead. That is not a everlasting monitor. So a type of modifications, I might hope, is that they’ll make some variations in overtaking if they’ll.”
Rosberg emphasised how troublesome it was to overhaul on the Madring by citing an instance. He stated:
“It was fairly stunning like Piastri on Colapinto, for instance. Piastri had contemporary tires, he couldn’t get previous. And he was a lot faster. It is similar to tremendous arduous to overhaul.”
