Formula 1 in Madrid: Pirelli explains the challenges of La Monumental

– The new Formula 1 track in Madrid has already generated plenty of discussion before the first race weekend. Besides questions about safety, one corner was particularly in focus: La Monumental, turn 12 of the new circuit around the IFEMA site.

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The banked corner has a banking angle of 13.5 degrees, which corresponds to a gradient of around 24 percent. This means that La Monumental is significantly below the banking of the last corner in Zandvoort. The Arie Luyendyk curve has a banking of 18 degrees. According to Pirelli, however, the section in Madrid is still the most demanding corner on the entire calendar for the tires.

Why La Monumental challenges the tires

The decisive factor is not the maximum load, but how long it acts on the tires. Pirelli’s chief engineer Simone Berra explains:

“Basically, the peak of the vertical energy is not higher than in other corners we have on the calendar, for example in Qatar or at the banking in Zandvoort. It is more about the time under load and the continuous stress you have.”

It is precisely this long load phase that makes La Monumental so interesting for Pirelli. “Instead of two or three seconds, you have these loads for 5.5 seconds. This means you have a load cycle twice as long in this area. That is the most important thing to keep in mind and what we take into account in our calculations.”

Pirelli sees no acute safety issues

The first data from Madrid correspond to Pirelli’s expectations from the simulations. On Friday evening, Berra had already evaluated data from several teams, but the full analysis was not yet complete at that time.

“At the moment, it is within the scope of our simulations. Of course, we continue to check all loads and data. So far, we have only checked three or four teams, but what we have seen so far matches our expectations,” explains Berra.

Therefore, there is currently no reason for measures such as limiting the maximum stint length. The situation thus differs from Qatar, where Pirelli had to intervene in the past due to so-called pyramid kerbs and later because of high tire loads.

Tires will be further examined after the practice sessions

“Of course, we are still working on it and have to check all the data. We will continue tomorrow because we will cut open the tires and check all constructions. This process is not yet complete,” says Berra.

Further tires from the second and third free practice sessions will therefore also be examined and cut open. According to the current status, however, Pirelli sees no reason to restrict operations.

Full throttle or lifting in La Monumental?

Besides the tire load, another interesting question arose before the first Grand Prix of Madrid: Is La Monumental to be taken at full throttle?

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The last corner in Zandvoort can be taken by Formula 1 drivers at full throttle without problems. In Madrid, the situation is more complicated. La Monumental is not only longer but also has a more pronounced elevation profile. The corner starts high, initially goes downhill, then rises again before the track drops again on the way to turn 13.

These peculiarities caused the teams’ simulations to differ significantly. Some expected to be able to take the corner completely at full throttle, while others anticipated a short lift.

Teams with lifting were right

Pirelli now knows the answer. “It was interesting to see whether the teams’ simulations for turn 12, La Monumental, matched. Some teams expected to be limited by the available grip. They assumed they would have to lift off the throttle in this section, while other teams had calculated full throttle there.”

Reality confirmed the more cautious simulations. Especially at the corner entry, drivers have to significantly ease off the throttle before they can accelerate again. “The teams that simulated lifting were right. Especially in the first part of the corner, they had to lift off the throttle somewhat, to about 30 or 40 percent. After two seconds, they could then go full throttle again,” explains Berra.

For Pirelli, this insight is not only interesting from a driving perspective. The different throttle application also changes the forces acting on the tires during the passage. “That was quite interesting because it affects the tire loads and the analysis of tire integrity that we carry out at every race weekend,” Berra continues.

Ferrari and Antonelli with different approaches

The data from the second free practice also show differences between the drivers. The two Ferrari drivers initially went full throttle into La Monumental before significantly reducing speed. Kimi Antonelli was already more cautious when turning into the corner.

In the second part of the banked corner, however, all three drivers were again at full throttle. This makes La Monumental a section where not only pure speed but also the right timing for lifting off can be decisive.

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen had already pointed out the peculiarity of the corner on Thursday: “I think the banking is cool. It won’t be easy to take at full throttle, I think. It requires a certain driving skill, and in my opinion, that’s always good.”

The first experiences on the new circuit now show that Verstappen was right with his assessment. La Monumental is not a classic full-throttle corner like the last corner in Zandvoort, but a technically demanding section where drivers and tires are subjected to high forces over several seconds

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