The Spanish Grand Prix is set to return to Madrid in 2026, marking Formula 1’s comeback to the capital on a hybrid track that blends city veins with a modern circuit. The project is being developed for the Ifema environment, with the layout conceived by the Dromo company, known for projects such as remodeling the Zandvoort circuit in the Netherlands. Jarno Zaffelli, the CEO of the firm, disclosed key details of the plan, which still requires FIA approval. The paddock is planned to be fully enclosed and positioned within the fairgrounds warehouses.
Madrid track will be high speed
The new Spanish GP circuit will loop around Ifema, located in the Valdebebas district to the north of Madrid. It will stretch 5.474 kilometers in a clockwise direction, feature 20 turns with widths between 12 and 15 meters, and, according to Zaffelli, the lap is expected to take about 1 minute and 32 seconds.
The Madrid circuit is designed for high speed, with top velocities around 300 kilometers per hour. Two long straights will measure 1,000 and 1,500 meters and will be followed by strong braking zones. Up to four overtaking opportunities are planned, introducing exciting elements for drivers and fans alike. Some corners will be blind and others lead into tunnel sections, adding to the challenge.
The numbers the Madrid GP wants to be the best in F1
The Spanish Grand Prix in Madrid aims to deliver a fan experience centered around a winding stretch with eight corners and the final two 90 degree bends in front of Ifema’s main building. The corporate image for Ifema was unveiled in April 2021. The project emphasizes sustainability and modularity while drawing on feedback from drivers to fine-tune the design.
Target more than 140,000 spectators
The Madrid route leverages the expansion at Valdebebas and the large 200,000 square meter footprint, including 13 pavilions and 85 rooms, with potential connections to two Ifema convention centers. Barajas International Airport will be just five minutes away and the city will be accessible via public transport. Municipal officials stress that the project will boost the local economy without disrupting Madrid’s daily life.
F1’s return to Madrid in 2026 is now a reality
Preliminary plans envision a test run spanning only 1.5 kilometers on public roads, with ambitions to attract more than 110,000 spectators in the opening year and up to 140,000 from the fifth year onward. Event figures are expected to grow throughout the three days each race will be held and could extend to at least 2035.
Zaffelli, founder and CEO of Dromo, provided additional detail about the semi-urban route, noting that the competition begins at the Ifema entrance, veers left into the second corner, and continues at full speed until the second overtaking point at turn five after roughly 1,000 meters.
90 degree bends and closed paddock club
After the initial section, the route dives into a tunnel that descends toward an 8 percent slope, followed by a critical blind bend that places drivers into the third overtaking point after about 1,500 meters of high-speed running. The fourth overtaking opportunity concludes the sequence, inviting fierce late-race battles.
The last elements of the project show the benefits of the venue’s integration into the urban landscape. The paddock area is designed as an indoor, climate-controlled club environment where all team services are available, complementing fan spaces that offer a unique, immersive experience beyond what most grand prix venues provide.
Formula 1 will leave 450 million a year in Madrid by 2035
The Madrid event is framed as a major economic opportunity. The plan includes a quick corner braking approach near pavilion 14 at Ifema, with the final two bends integrating into the cityscape at the front of the main building, where winners will be celebrated. The strategy also highlights a comprehensive, immersive experience for fans, with dedicated spaces for meetings and events not found at other grands prix, underscoring a broader experiential promise for the sport.