Antonelli wins in Madrid but F1 drivers demand Madring changes after race with almost no overtakes

Kimi Antonelli claimed victory at the first Formula 1 Spanish Grand Prix held at Madrid’s Madring circuit, but the race left drivers and observers united in frustration over a layout that made overtaking virtually impossible.

The Mercedes driver, who leads the championship, acknowledged enjoying qualifying around the IFEMA complex but was candid about the race itself. “It definitely doesn’t create overtaking opportunities and it doesn’t push you to try and make a move, because 80% of the time you might have contact,” Antonelli said after the chequered flag. “I think especially in the second chicane, if I would have turned in there, me and Lando would have touched and probably gone into the wall and blocked the road.”

His verdict was shared across the paddock. When asked about the atmosphere in the media centre, Haas rookie Gabriel Bortoleto did not hold back: “I almost fell asleep as well.”

Max Verstappen had seen it coming. On Saturday, the Red Bull driver told Dutch media, “Just give me the track map”, signalling he would redesign much of the circuit. He noted that drivers had not been consulted during the Madring’s design phase — a contrast, he said, with Jeddah, where driver input was sought after safety concerns emerged in the circuit’s debut year.

Oliver Bearman, who missed qualifying after a heavy crash in third practice, was equally blunt. “You only have to look at the layout, and it’s quite clear that it’s going to be a poor track for racing,” the Haas driver said. “When you arrive and you see that layout, you’re like, what do you expect us to do? It’s a bit of a shame.”

Bearman identified two structural problems with the circuit that make attacking almost futile. “Not only do you have a lot of long combined exits where it’s really tough to put power down, but you have a lot of combined entries as well. It’s very easy to drive a bit dangerously defending your position and, therefore, very hard to send an overtake.”

Antonelli echoed the call for modifications, pointing specifically to corners that need to be redesigned to open up passing opportunities. “Right now, yes, it’s nice over one lap, but for sure in the race you’re just stuck behind,” he said.

Drivers indicated they had already raised their concerns with the FIA on Friday, and the consensus in the paddock is that structural changes to the Madring will be necessary before Madrid can deliver the spectacle Formula 1 demands.