News Summary
- Sergio Pérez described Madring as an “intimidating” circuit and compared some of its characteristics with Jeddah.
- The Cadillac driver believes confidence in the car and avoiding mistakes will be crucial, particularly in qualifying.
- Pérez sees the Spanish GP as an opportunity for Cadillac to score its first points of its debut F1 season.
Sergio Pérez approved of the new Madrid circuit ahead of Formula 1’s Spanish Grand Prix this weekend, describing Madring as an “intimidating” track after getting his first impression of the layout in the simulator.
The Cadillac driver has yet to drive the circuit in person, but said the experience on the simulator was enough to leave a positive impression. Pérez also expects the atmosphere at Formula 1’s first race in Madrid to be one of the highlights of the weekend.
“From what I’ve seen, this is a proper race track. I haven’t had the opportunity to drive here yet, but I was able to see it on the simulator. I would say it’s intimidating, a little bit like Jeddah. It looks like a very good circuit, I’m very happy to be here and I think the atmosphere is going to be one of the best,” Pérez said in an interview attended by GRANDE PRÊMIO on Thursday (10).
Pérez believes confidence in the car will be particularly important during qualifying, when drivers have to get close to the limits while avoiding the distraction created by the walls.
“I think on street circuits you need to be in tune with your car. You need to have that confidence when it comes to qualifying. Once the race starts, you need to be able not to think too much about the walls. It’s like when you’re playing golf and there’s water around: you shouldn’t think about the water. It’s a bit like that,” he explained.
The Mexican also highlighted the way street circuits immediately punish mistakes. He believes the level of grip will be another key factor in determining how the cars behave throughout the weekend.
“I think the track is going to be very demanding. It all depends on the level of grip we have, but I don’t think there’s any margin for mistakes. I like these places, where you make a mistake and you’re punished. It’s very rare, depending on the corner where you make the mistake, that you can get away with it, but in most places there is no margin for that. I really like street circuits; they’re my favourites,” Pérez said.
Madring will be a completely new challenge for the entire F1 field, with no driver having previously raced a Grand Prix at the 5.4 km circuit. The layout combines public-road and purpose-built sections around IFEMA and Valdebebas, while the spectacular La Monumental banked section is expected to be one of the defining features of the track.
Pérez sees opportunity for Cadillac
Beyond his assessment of the circuit, Pérez sees Madrid as an important opportunity for Cadillac.
The American team remains the only constructor without a point in the 2026 championship. Its debut season has been marked by reliability problems as well as a lack of outright performance, leaving Pérez and Valtteri Bottas still searching for the breakthrough result that would put Cadillac on the scoreboard.
Pérez believes the new circuit could provide an opening if Cadillac manages to execute every part of the weekend correctly.
“I think this weekend is an opportunity for us. If we get everything right, if we’re 100% focused on everything, this could be our chance,” the Mexican concluded.
The challenge will also depend on how Cadillac adapts to Madring’s grip levels and high-risk sections. With limited real-world data available before the opening practice session, Friday’s running will be particularly important for understanding the balance and tyre behaviour of the MAC-26.
Formula 1 returns from September 11-13 for the Spanish GP, the 14th round of the 2026 season and the first Grand Prix at Madrid’s new Madring circuit. GRANDE PRÊMIO will cover all the action from the Spanish capital.
FAQ
Can Cadillac score its first F1 points in Madrid?
Yes. Cadillac remains without a point in 2026, but Sergio Pérez believes the Spanish GP represents an opportunity if the team can put together a clean and focused weekend.
What is Madring like?
Madring is a 5.4 km, 22-corner circuit combining public-road and purpose-built sections. It includes long straights, heavy braking zones and the banked La Monumental section.
When is the 2026 Spanish GP?
The Spanish Grand Prix takes place from September 11-13 at Madring in Madrid. The race is scheduled for 1:00pm local time on Sunday, September 13, with qualifying at 2:00pm on Saturday.
