Spanish Grand Prix drivers slammed the circuit, claiming overtaking was nearly impossible and demanding outright track changes.
Steadily Dead‑Track: Drivers Hostile Toward Madrid’s Layout
Max Verstappen told Dutch broadcasters on Saturday that he saw zero overtaking chances, stressing the need for a new track map. Kimi Antonelli echoed the sentiment after his win, saying the lap looked entertaining but the race offered little action.
Antonelli explained that the speed only allows one carrier Lap at the back of the field, leaving drivers “stuck behind.” He warned that key corners, especially the second chicane, could trigger contact. “If I’d turned for Lando, both of us would have hit the wall and blocked the road,” he said.
Oliver Bearman, who suffered a heavy crash in practice, described the layout as a “poor track for racing.” He highlighted long combined exits and entries that blunt braking power and safe‑defending options. Bearman reminded the FIA on Friday that only “minor” changes could make the circuit viable.
Junior Insight: Albon and Others Demand Minor Re‑works
Williams driver Alex Albon was quick to call out the lack of overtakes, stressing that F3 cars had no room to manoeuvre. “If the formula‑3 cars can’t overtake, there won’t be any on the weekend,” he said, pushing for limited adjustments in the next season.
Albon singled out the Turn 3 to Turn 5 region, urging a straighter braking zone and removal of the Turn 5–6 chicane. He also suggested that Turn 13 should be loosened for a longer, slower corner. “The banking isn’t doing anything special there,” he noted.
BMW‑Audi’s Tom Bortoleto pointed to the 50‑metre jump at Turn 5, warning that the strain accumulated over 50 laps cracked drivers’ shoulders.
Lando Norris dragged out a final sector proposal: get rid of useless Turn 18 and 19 to create a straight into a hairpin. He compared the ideal layout to the Circuit of the Americas, highlighting the need for a wide‑entry hairpin to generate sweeping overtakes.
Concrete Fixes Under Discussion
- Redesign Turn 3‑5 to supply a smoother exit‑braking sequence.
- Eliminate the Turn 5–6 chicane to open the front section.
- Adjust Turn 13 banking to prove a slower, longer braking zone.
- Remove Turn 18 & 19 for a straight‑to‑hairpin approach.
- Shorten the pit lane to encourage more tactical stops.
The consensus from front‑row drivers, secondary‑class participants and team strategists is that moving forward, Madrid must earn more than a single high‑speed lap; the race must deliver realistic, safe, and exciting battles.
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