– Just under three weeks before Formula 1 makes its debut at the new Madring in Madrid, the first series has already held its first session on the track. Even before a single car had completed race laps in the Spanish capital, Formula 3 settled in on Monday and Tuesday and essentially inaugurated the track.
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Because the junior series is holding official test runs on the Madring these days. 30 cars from ten teams are on the 5.416-kilometer course with its 22 corners for six hours each day, before Formula 3 will hold its season finale there as part of Formula 1.
The test is basically a dress rehearsal for the FIA ahead of the Formula 1 event on September 13, where the track can be thoroughly tested without the big eyes of the world public watching.
Many incidents during Formula 3 test
And if the session is a precursor for Formula 1, then fans can expect a lot of spectacle on September 13: The test runs had to be interrupted several times on Monday with a red flag because the drivers found a wall on the street circuit.
The incidents were not necessarily concentrated on just one corner but were spread across the course: Maciej Gladysz (ART) crashed in turn 5, Freddie Slater (Trident) in turn 10, Bruno del Pino (Van Amersfoort) had bad luck in turn 12, Christian Ho (Rodin) found the wall in turn 18, and for Fernando Barrichello (AIX) and Jin Nakamura (Hitech) it was over after wall contact in turn 17.
Many incidents were also triggered by the dirty conditions, as wind repeatedly blew dirt and dust from the surrounding construction sites onto the track. Nevertheless, the new Formula 1 circuit presented itself in good condition, as the FIA officials and numerous Formula 1 team members on site were able to confirm.
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The fastest time on Monday was set by Audi junior Freddie Slater in 1:50.343 minutes. Today, Tuesday, the test runs will end with two three-hour sessions.
Formula 3 will race twice more this season as part of the Formula 1 support program: first the series will be a guest in Monza, before the year 2026 ends at the new Madring. Current overall leader is Slater with 130 points ahead of former McLaren junior Ugo Ugochukwu (122). All other drivers no longer have realistic championship chances.
Ferrari already completed first laps
Formula 1 cars have also already covered some meters in Madrid: Ferrari had booked a filming day on the track at the beginning of July and completed some laps with Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton on the then still under-construction facility.
The competition was not pleased about this, however: “We were not informed about this in advance,” McLaren team principal Andrea Stella criticized and noted that Ferrari would have “a small advantage” because of this, which Leclerc, however, dismissed. “Because of all the dirt on the track, I couldn’t really attack fully anyway,” he said.
Madrid will host a Formula 1 race for the first time in 2026 and has taken over the title Grand Prix of Spain from Barcelona. The Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya remains on the calendar as well, but rotates with Spa-Francorchamps and has held the Grand Prix of Barcelona-Catalonia since this year.
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