"Madrid is the best city in the world," claims Sainz as the Spanish capital begins construction of F1 venue
Four-time F1 race winner Carlos Sainz has labelled Madrid as "the best city of the world" as construction of the Madring circuit has begun, with organisers in the Spanish capital laying the foundation stone for the venue that will take over the Spanish Grand Prix from Barcelona from 2026 onwards.
Formula 1 confirmed last June that the Spanish Grand Prix will be held at a new track in Madrid from 2026 with a 10-year deal which means that Barcelona might lose its spot on the F1 calendar.
The new track is due to take over the Spanish Grand Prix from the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya near Barcelona, which has hosted the race since 1991. F1 last raced near Madrid in 1981 at the Jarama circuit on the city’s outskirts.
The new venue is due to bring F1 to the Spanish capital from next year with a 5.4-kilometer (3.4-mile) circuit laid out around an area of exhibition halls near Madrid’s main airport, using a mix of existing roads and purpose-built sections of track. The organizers have now confirmed that the Madrid circuit will be referred to as MADRING.
Madrid is the first major European capital to host a Formula 1 Grand Prix, and the circuit’s name reflects this milestone. MADRING merge “Madrid” with “ring”, a term often associated with racing circuits in the F1 world. The organizers promise that "Madrid will come alive with a wide range of F1-themed activities and entertainment initiatives before, during, and after the Grand Prix, immersing the entire region in the Formula 1 experience."
The new Spanish circuit has now achieved another milestone. Following the approval of the construction license, the foundation stone was laid today, "marking the start of a new chapter for the Spanish capital, which will become the only European capital city to host a Formula 1 Grand Prix. A project led by IFEMA MADRID for which the Community and the City Council of the capital have always been committed, as the Madrid Chamber of Commerce, who were present at the event."
The President of the Community of Madrid, Isabel Díaz Ayuso, celebrated what she called "the realization of a dream that puts not only Madrid but all of Spain on the international sports map. It is a source of pride to host this motorsport event, which will create jobs and attract thousands of visitors who will enjoy not only the race, but also our city’s culture, gastronomy, and lifestyle”.
Madrid’s City Council, another key supporter of the project, also expressed its excitement at the start of the works. “We’re bringing Formula 1 back to Madrid, and we’re doing it while preserving the spirit of the city and its people. As Rafa Nadal said at the Laureus Awards, Madrid is the European capital of sport—and he’s right.”
For his part, José Vicente de los Mozos pointed out that “IFEMA MADRID's ambition is to turn the capital into a benchmark on the international calendar, offering a new paradigm capable of combining sport and spectacle in a memorable event, all in this circuit, MADRING, which will begin to be built in the coming days”.
Madrid-born F1 driver Carlos Sainz, appointed as the official ambassador of the Madrid Grand Prix, was one of the stars of the ceremony. In addition to taking part in the symbolic laying of the first stone —which fittingly involved an electric excavator race— Sainz expressed his pride in representing his hometown: “Madrid is the best city in the world and the place I miss the most when I’m away. It was an easy decision to become MADRING’s ambassador because I truly believe we can build the best circuit in the world. I have complete faith in Madrid—it’s unbeatable. And we’re going for it.”
The 5.4-kilometer layout, featuring 22 corners and 57 laps, was unveiled today in both scale model and video form. It promises a mix of excitement, technical challenges, and a strong commitment to sustainability—one of the core pillars of the project, led by the joint venture UTE Circuito Madrid, made up of ACCIONA (60%) and Eiffage Construcción (40%).
