Organisers of Method 1’s Spanish Grand Prix in Madrid are able to make tweaks to the Madring circuit to spice up overtaking for 2027, and have already obtained suggestions from the FIA.
The 5.4km circuit round Madrid’s IFEMA fairgrounds, which made its competitors debut final weekend, was praised by drivers and groups for its amenities and its driving problem. However whereas the tough mixture of medium to high-speed corners delivered a high-stakes qualifying session, the shortage of clear overtaking alternatives led to an absence of motion all through the weekend, together with throughout F1, F2 and F3.
The principle overtaking choice was purported to be the Flip 5 chicane following the circuit’s longest straight, however the nook’s awkward design made that troublesome. Voicing their suggestions in Friday night time’s drivers’ briefing, drivers had been significantly pissed off by the variety of mixed nook entries, the place automobiles are having to brake and steer on the identical time, which has made it straight-forward for the automobile in entrance to defend. In addition they felt the circuit’s pitlane was far too lengthy to entice groups to strive completely different pitstop methods.
Talking completely to Autosport after Sunday’s race, the occasion’s managing director Luis Garcia Abad stated his crew was keen to make the required modifications to enhance the on-track spectacle, and that he had already obtained suggestions from the FIA for the 2027 occasion.
“Being trustworthy with you, the FIA outlined clearly which is the way in which to enhance the observe format, and we shall be open as a result of we should reinstall the observe for the subsequent yr,” Abad stated. “I actually consider that the drivers loved qualifying rather a lot. However for positive we are going to attempt to make an enchancment for subsequent yr.”
Lando Norris, McLaren
Photograph by: Michael Potts / LAT Photos through Getty Photos
Final weekend’s race was the primary of a 10-year contract. And with the northern half of the circuit being designed from a clean sheet of paper on empty land, Abad vowed there’s loads of scope to make important adjustments.
“We now have the house, now we have a venue, now we have the amenities, now we have the capability to do it,” he promised. “I am positive that FOM, FIA, and ourselves, we are going to strive. If we are able to enhance one thing, we are going to do it.”
Talking after the race, world champion Lando Norris made a couple of suggestions.
“To me, it’s not an excellent race observe. It’s nice in qualifying, however a straight line from Flip 17 straight to Flip 20 [would help], to have a a lot wider entry like Austin Flip 1 or Flip 10, a giant hairpin. You’ll create a lot better alternatives for everybody and also you’ll be capable of benefit from the race.
“There are some easy adjustments and perhaps some trickier ones, like Flip 5, 6, 7. It’s onerous to know precisely what’s the neatest thing. The actual fact it’s a must to flip and brake [at the same time] mainly defeats the entire object of racing.”
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