Five Things You Didn't Know About the Spanish GP 2026

For the first time ever, Formula 1 is heading to the streets of Madrid for the Spanish Grand Prix. The capital city has hosted the World Championship before – but more on that later – and will be welcoming cars around the new 5.416km MADRING circuit.

Despite never hosting a Grand Prix at this venue before, there’s still so much to admire about this Spanish city and its long-term love affair with sports and culture. From Guinness World Records to a giant Spanish flag that is the biggest in the country, there’s a lot to learn before the inaugural Spanish Grand Prix at the MADRING.

Madrid’s F1 History

Although the concept of racing in the centre of Madrid is something that has existed for more than a decade, it’s only a vision that has come true in the last few years. News of Madrid’s long-term future on the calendar dropped in early 2024, and the rest they say is history!

However, Madrid is no stranger to F1 and used to previously be held at the Circuito de Madrid Jarama which is about 30km north of the city centre. This venue was used across nine Grands Prix, from 1968 with the last visit for the championship being in 1981, and was designed by John Hugenholtz who was also responsible for circuits like Suzuka in Japan.

Construction by Numbers

Being a newly built circuit means lots of preparation and planning from organisers, in order to get the necessary sign off from F1’s governing body, the FIA. The deadline was June this year, and teams worked tirelessly to make sure it was both ready and safe. Around the circuit you’ll find ⁠3,500 concrete safety barriers lining the track, 19 camera openings for F1’s television cameras that are used on the international broadcast, and⁠ ⁠60 photographer cutouts. A 5.5-megawatt solar installation will also power the venue.

Last month, MADRING hosted two official FIA Formula 3 test days, and those eagle-eyed among you might have spotted a big Spanish flag in the back of some shots. Now the term ‘big flag’ is not to be underestimated here, with the flagpole alone is 54m metres in height to coincide with the 5.4km track length and the flag itself is 430m² (16.6m by 25m). For comparison, that's twice the size of the flag they have in central Madrid! It’s located at the end of the start-finish straight and is believed to be the biggest Spanish flag in the country.

F1’s Next Best Corner?

One of the biggest talking points going into this weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix is the La Monumental corner. Found at Turn 12, this piece of design is one of the most ambitious corners seen in modern F1 and blends banking with high-speed and a 24% incline.

Its total length is 550m, and one current F1 driver expects cars to arrive into the corner at around 180kph but things will only get quicker from there. It’s going to be an epic thing to witness, with seats for about 45,000 spectators nearby and proximity to the largest Fan Zone found at any F1 track.

Named after the Plaza de Toros Monumental de Barcelona, a bullring and popular venue in Catalonia, the word monumental also means ‘very big’ and that it is.

Home to the World’s Oldest Restaurant

Much like art and architecture, Madrid is known for being a hub of delicious food. Birthplace of the potato dish patatas bravas, which I could eat my bodyweight of, Madrid is also home to Restaurante Botín which opened in 1725 and is officially recognised as the oldest restaurant on the globe according to the Guinness World Records.

Restaurante Botín is located in Calle de Cuchilleros, and was opened by a French chef called Jean Botín. Today it’s run by the third-generation of the Gonzalez family, and is spread across four floors. It’s an excellent place to go for a real taste of traditional Spanish food, with the original 18th-century interiors and firewood oven still in place. Definitely worth a visit, but make sure you pre-book.

Fútbol Is Life

They call it the beautiful game, and Spain sure knows how to play it. The reigning World Cup winners have a successful history with football, and especially the clubs based in Madrid.

Real Madrid have won a record 26 titles in Uefa competitions, making them the most decorated club in all of Europe, and in Spanish domestic football, they've secured 71 trophies as a club. They’re often regarded as one of the most-supported and financially successful football clubs to exist, and are often top of the rankings of both governing bodies and organisations. There is also Atlético Madrid, who have collected silverware of their own and have won the Uefa Europa League on three occasions.

Away from football, there’s basketball team Real Madrid Baloncesto, and like their football colleagues are also legends in their field by winning a record 38 Spanish League championships. Tennis also has a home with the Madrid Open, and the Plaza de Toros de Las Ventas is the largest bullfighting ring in Spain.