Guenther Steiner, former Haas F1 team boss and current Tech3 MotoGP CEO, has issued a stark warning to Madrid Grand Prix organisers. He believes that if the street circuit event doesn't improve significantly in its second year, it will be considered a failure.
Madrid made its highly anticipated debut on the F1 calendar this season, but the inaugural race at the Madring fell flat. Drivers and fans alike criticised the track layout, which produced minimal action and few overtaking opportunities. The predicted chaos never materialised, leaving many to question the circuit's place in the sport.
Steiner drew a parallel with the Las Vegas Grand Prix, which also faced heavy criticism in its first year. "In Vegas, the first year, people were saying, 'Oh, why would you go to Vegas? It's the most stupid thing to do'," he said on The Red Flag podcast. "It has become a very good thing, and something worked straight away, and something needed some fine-tuning."
However, Steiner insists Madrid cannot afford to rest on its laurels. With a 10-year contract in place, the pressure is on to deliver. "If next year Madrid is not sorted out, I would see it as a failure because it's a 10-year contract; it needs to be fixed. There cannot be a second year like this," he stressed. He recalled the drainage cover fiasco in Vegas' first year, which many labelled a disaster, yet the event bounced back to become almost iconic.
The Italian understands F1 and Liberty Media's push to host races near major cities for better accessibility. He pointed to classic tracks like Spa-Francorchamps, which, despite its legendary status, often draws criticism for poor infrastructure. "You want a cool race, but you also want a good race. Otherwise, you go to another race, but I cannot find a restaurant in the evening. Guess why? Because there isn't one. The paddock is like 40 years ago," he explained.
Steiner praised the Hungaroring as a model of successful transformation. The aging circuit underwent a major renovation and is now a favourite among fans and drivers. "Hungary has done a great job. They realised their track is 30, 40 years old, they needed to do something. They fixed it, and they will have the race forever because Hungary is a good place, near Budapest."
With mounting pressure, Madrid stands at a crossroads. They must act swiftly to improve the circuit layout, perhaps by revising corners to encourage overtaking. If not, Steiner's prediction may come true: Madrid will be remembered as a failed experiment rather than an iconic race like Vegas.
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