The Formula 1 Grand Prix of Madrid, which will take place from September 11 to 13 at the Madring circuit, has already sold over 120,000 tickets. The general director, Luis García Abad, has unveiled the details of 'La Monumental', a 547-metre banked curve that promises to be the largest and fiercest in the world.
The dream of seeing Formula 1 back in Madrid is about to become a reality. The Madring circuit, located at the IFEMA fairgrounds, will host the Spanish Grand Prix from September 11 to 13, 2026, 45 years after the last event of the competition in the capital. And the anticipation is at its peak: over 120,000 tickets have already been sold, which the organisation has termed a 'technical sell-out' for weeks.
This was confirmed by Luis García Abad, general director of the Spanish Grand Prix, during his speech at the Europe Press Sports Breakfasts. The former representative of Fernando Alonso reviewed the evolution of the project, from being little more than an idea to becoming a reality that will bring together around 400,000 people over the weekend.
García Abad recalled that when they began discussions with Formula 1, the proposal seemed 'like a unicorn'. 'The first time I spoke about this with Stefano Domenicali, I realised it was bordering on the unexpected. The first times we put it on the table, they looked at us with some disdain. Poor things, they said,' he recounted.
However, the work of recent years has changed the landscape. 'With actions, not words, is how things are proven,' García Abad summarised. Ticket sales have continued to grow, and the forecast is that the event will attract fans from the United States, the United Kingdom, Italy, Portugal, and several South American countries.
The chosen location, in the IFEMA area, was key to the project's success. Before opting for this option, the organising team considered other alternatives, but none offered the combination of already built infrastructure, proximity to the airport, and good Metro and commuter train connections. 'I won’t lie, I wasn’t sure it would happen either. But it was close to the metro, within the city, and it already had toilets,' García Abad joked.
Beyond logistics, the executive emphasised the business component involved in organising a Grand Prix. 'Launching a Grand Prix is not just about making a circuit. The best in the world are already built. There is a business component that we cannot avoid: it’s about creating an experience to make it as easy as possible for the customers,' he explained. In fact, the contract for Madring is the longest that Formula 1 currently has.
The circuit's main hallmark will be 'La Monumental', a banked curve 547 metres long with a 24% incline. García Abad stated that they were looking for 'the largest curve in the world with the highest banking possible'. 'It’s a fierce curve; you can’t take it flat out because that’s how it was designed,' he affirmed.
The origin of this special curve lies in the childhood of the general director himself. 'La Monumental exists because the first and only Scalextric of my life had a huge banked curve. I have always liked those curves,' he confessed. Additionally, the layout will feature several overtaking points, although drivers 'will have to be brave' due to the proximity of the walls.
García Abad did not hesitate to compare the impact of the Madrid event to that of a major event like the Super Bowl, recalling that Formula 1 has a potential audience of 1.8 billion people worldwide. He asserted the uniqueness of holding the race within the capital itself: 'Bringing Formula 1 to Madrid is a success for the city. We are in Madrid, not near Madrid, and that cannot be compared to anything.'
For fans who do not yet have tickets, the organisation recommends keeping an eye out for possible resales or VIP packages that may be released in the coming weeks. The event promises to be a milestone for the capital, with unprecedented economic and media impact.
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