Juan Pablo Montoya has expressed his admiration for the Madring circuit, the new semi-street track in Madrid that will host the Spanish Grand Prix this weekend. The former Formula 1 driver even admitted that it is the first track of the 2026 season that has made him want to get back behind the wheel.
After the Italian Grand Prix at Monza last weekend, where Mercedes secured a 1-2 finish with Kimi Antonelli and George Russell, the drivers now face a step into the unknown at the new 5.4km, 22-turn layout.
Speaking on F1 TV's Weekend Warm-Up show, Montoya shared his excitement after completing a track walk. "I walked it this morning, and I've been in a road car a couple of weeks ago. I've seen it a few times," he explained. "Unbelievable. Honestly, I do a lot of track walks because my kid races in Formula 2, so we do track walks every race, and this was the first time I went, 'Oo, I would like to drive this.'"
He added, "Out of all the tracks we've been to this year, it's the first time I've gone, 'This would be unbelievable.' I don't think the track map does it justice because of the elevation and the blindness. A lot of the corners are old-style, with barriers inside and out, and they're blind corners. You're turning, and the guy who gets closer to the apex is the guy who is closest to the wall, and I think that brings a lot of cool things because when you open the apexes, anybody can do it."
Montoya emphasized that the real challenge lies in precision. "Anybody can run a wide line, a little here, a little there, but if you put a barrier on it, you've got to be perfect. And I think that is just the level of commitment you need to bring. It's incredible."
With a circuit that demands bravery and precision, Madring is predicted to be a severe test for the drivers. Formula 1 2026 will witness how drivers overcome this new challenge, and whether this track will become a new favorite on the calendar.
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