# Madrid's new F1 track is a parade lane > F1 went from a fairy tale win at Monza to a 3.3 mile circuit where nobody could pass. - Title: Madrid's new F1 track is a parade lane · Ars Technica - Summary: F1 went from a fairy tale win at Monza to a 3.3 mile circuit where nobody could pass. A track that looks exciting on paper can still kill racing, and… - Keywords: formula 1, madrid, antonelli, track design, fia, technology, science, Madrid's, track, parade, lane, Ars Technica - Source: Ars Technica — https://arstechnica.com/cars/2026/09/f1-in-madrid-like-monaco-but-twice-as-long-and-none-of-the-glamour - Published: 2026-09-14T14:32:35+00:00 - Read time: 2 min - Topics: formula 1, madrid, antonelli, track design, fia, technology, science ## Two weekends, two worlds F1 hit Monza, one of the oldest circuits on the calendar, then Madrid's brand new Madring. The gap between the two could not have been wider. ## Tifosi hopes died fast Monza was packed with red-clad Italian superfans. Charles Leclerc wrecked his teammate's race and then his own inside the first two laps. ## Antonelli started 19th Mercedes took a new engine and power unit parts, dropping Kimi Antonelli to 19th on the grid. Monza's long straights and slow corners gave him places to attack. > he's going to podium, easily ## Twelfth by the red flag Leclerc's heavy crash at Parabolica stopped the race. Antonelli had already climbed to 12th before the cars came to a halt. ## First Italian in 60 years From the second standing start on fresh mediums, Antonelli cleared the field, including leader George Russell, and won the Italian Grand Prix. No Italian had done it since 1965. ## The Madring was born rough The 3.3 mile temporary circuit wraps an exhibition center near Madrid's airport. Heavy rain wrecked the build schedule, and a highway overpass boxed in the layout. ## The banked corner flopped Its headline feature is a long banked turn meant to produce IndyCar-style passing. F2 and F3 delivered crashes and red flags. F1 drivers just picked no battles at all. ## Norris lost it in the pits Lando Norris took pole and led from the start, the fastest man on track. Then a virtual safety car landed just past his pit window and handed the advantage to others. ## A seven second stop McLaren pitted him anyway once the VSC ended, instead of running on for a green flag stop. A wheel problem held him stationary for over seven seconds, three times a normal stop. ## Third was the ceiling Norris rejoined fifth, gained places only as Russell and Leclerc took their own stops, and finished third. The reigning champion had nowhere left to go. ## Drivers said it plainly Oliver Bearman called the layout obviously poor for racing. Oscar Piastri ranked it second only to Monaco for difficulty passing. Verstappen held off Norris by simply staying mid-track. > I think the only track more difficult to overtake on is Monaco ## Ferrari's season is over Lewis Hamilton retired early with brake failure. Antonelli's eighth win of the year puts him 81 points clear of Russell and close to the title. ## Alonso got a private line Nine years remain on the Madring deal, with turns 5-6, 13 and 20 already slated for redesign. Meanwhile FIA president Bin Sulayem promised Fernando Alonso extra development resources for Aston Martin, bypassing the process built for exactly that. > please tell me what you want, because you are the driver ## Key takeaway A track that looks exciting on paper can still kill racing, and Madrid's fix list is already nine years long.