Work begins on Madring aiming to be "best F1 circuit in the world"

Speaking to reporters about the Madrid 5.47km layout, with 22 turns, tight street sections plus an open area with Jeddah-style high-speed corners, Madrid-born Sainz said: "I think we can be the best circuit in the world and the best event of the whole calendar.

"There will be 24 or 25 races, and I honestly think along with Mexico, Miami, Las Vegas that do it very well but sincerely, I trust a lot in Madrid and I believe that Madrid can do better," said the Williams driver, who took part in a press conference as an event ambassador on Friday.

Local authorities said licences and paperwork were ready from Friday for building work to begin. Spanish engineering firm Acciona and France's Eiffage have won the contract to construct the circuit in an urban area in the city's northeast, around the IFEMA exhibition centre.

It is expected to be completed by May 2026 and cost 83.2 million euros ($94.57 million), Acciona said.

The Madrid circuit will eventually replace Barcelona's Circuit de Catalunya, currently host of the Spanish Grand Prix, which is located some 32 km from the eastern port city, with a roughly 45-minute walk from the nearest station.

Next year, 2026 will be in the last year of Barcelona's contract, both venues are expected to feature but thereafter the Spanish Grand Prix at Circuit Catalunya-Barcelona will shift to Madrid.

In a press release, the organisers confirmed that Madrid has officially broken ground on its new Formula 1 project, Madring, following the approval of the construction licence. A symbolic ceremony today marked the start of the build, with the Spanish capital aiming to become the only European capital city to host a Formula 1 Grand Prix.

The project, led by IFEMA Madrid with the backing of the Community of Madrid, Madrid’s City Council, and the Madrid Chamber of Commerce, sets a bold new sporting ambition for the city.

Speaking at the ceremony, President of the Community of Madrid, Isabel Díaz Ayuso, celebrated the significance of the project: "This is the realisation 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," said Ayuso.

Ayuso also underlined Madring’s key advantage: "Its unbeatable location, just minutes from both the airport and the city centre."

Madrid’s City Council echoed the excitement surrounding 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," a spokesperson said. "As Rafa Nadal said at the Laureus Awards, Madrid is the European capital of sport—and he’s right."

José Vicente de los Mozos, President of the Executive Committee of IFEMA Madrid, outlined the ambition behind the project: "Our 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 Formula 1 driver Carlos Sainz, appointed as the official ambassador for the Madrid Grand Prix, played a central role in the groundbreaking ceremony, which included a symbolic electric excavator race.

Sainz said: "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 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."

Sainz praised the circuit’s design, describing it as one with "charisma and personality," and picked out La Monumental curve as a potential new icon for the track.

The new circuit, revealed on Friday through a scale model and video presentation, will feature a 5.4-kilometre, 22-turn layout designed to challenge drivers and entertain fans. Sustainability will be a key pillar of the project, led by UTE Circuito Madrid—a joint venture between ACCIONA (60%) and Eiffage Construcción (40%).

The event also saw the attendance of José Vicente de los Mozos, Manuel Aviñó (President of the Royal Spanish Automobile Federation), Ángel Asensio (President of the Madrid Chamber of Commerce), and Fernando Molinero (General Manager of the Spanish Sports Council), alongside other officials and industry representatives.

With the first stone laid, construction begins, Madrid is now firmly on the path to returning to the Formula 1 calendar in 2026—ushering in a new chapter in the city's rich sporting history.