Work on the MadRing circuit, which will host the Spanish Formula 1 Grand Prix next September, is progressing steadily. The 5.4-kilometer track, featuring 22 turns and 57 laps, is taking shape at the Ifema exhibition grounds, marking Formula 1's return to Madrid after more than four decades. The venue is expected to accommodate 120,000 spectators, with approximately 80,000 tickets already sold.
A critical milestone in the project's advancement is the commencement of asphalting. Curve 12, known as La Monumental, has already received its initial layer of pavement. This section required 1,800 cubic meters of asphalt mix, produced in Vicálvaro, and involved 80 workers and two state-of-the-art paving machines. This semicircular curve will span 547.82 meters in length and 12 meters in width, standing out for its complex geometry and steep inclination.
“"The track work is one and a half to two weeks ahead of the initial schedule, compensating for any delays caused by rain."
Carlos Jiménez, Operations Director of Ifema Madrid, confirmed that track work is ahead of schedule. The public road asphalting, which forms part of the circuit, has been divided into two phases. The first, from April 6 to 8, involved traffic closures on Ifema's Vía de Dublín between the Edimburgo and M-11 roundabouts. The second phase, from April 9 to 11, will affect Ifema's Ribera del Sena and Vía de Dublín, with total traffic restrictions from the roundabout south of the M-11 to the Pascual Bravo roundabout, including the closure of the exit via Francisco Umbral to the M-11 and a modification of bus line 171's route.
The asphalting phase of the track is expected to conclude by May 31. Following this, the circuit will undergo a final inspection for homologation, a crucial step for the Grand Prix to proceed from September 11 to 13. Concurrently, the construction of the Pit Building and Paddock Club, housing garages and teams, has been underway since November, with its structure now visible.
Everything is upside down.
However, the Stop F1 Madrid Platform has voiced concerns regarding the construction's impact, citing traffic disruptions, machinery noise, and the "repulsive" asphalt smell affecting nearby residents. Locals have urged the Madrid City Council to implement measures to protect those directly impacted by noise during the Grand Prix, a request for which the platform claims no solutions have been provided. With the event approaching, some residents are considering leaving their homes during the race, while others plan to stay and record noise levels.
