Overview
- Last week Ferrari ran a permitted filming day at the new 5.4 km, 22‑corner Madring and became the first modern F1 team to put cars on the layout under a 200 km demo limit and special Pirelli tyres.
- Lewis Hamilton reported ‘compression’ over the steep 550‑metre, 24% banked section known as La Monumental and was told by circuit officials that slowing was a possible mitigation.
- Charles Leclerc warned that qualifying will be demanding because several corners put drivers very close to walls and the banked exit is blind, and onboard footage shows narrow lines and blind braking zones.
- Organisers and IFEMA say the track design has FIA approval, Ferrari’s initial verdict was positive, and construction and final operational checks continue with organisers expecting to work overnight to meet deadlines.
- Earlier questions about who funded the filming day remain unresolved and Formula 3 test runs are scheduled to provide further systems checks before the Spanish Grand Prix in September.