Madrid’s New Street Circuit Ignites F1 Fanbase: 48,500 Tickets Sold for 2026 Spanish Grand Prix
Madrid, Spain – The inaugural Spanish Grand prix at the newly designed “MadRing” street circuit in Madrid has already generated important excitement, with organizers announcing the sale of 48,500 tickets just days into the general public sale. The overwhelming demand underscores the anticipation surrounding the event, scheduled for 2026, and signals a potential boost for Formula 1’s presence in Spain.
The rapid ticket sales highlight the appeal of a new, challenging circuit and the growing enthusiasm for F1 within the Spanish market. The race’s location in Madrid, a major European capital, offers a fresh alternative to the long-standing Spanish Grand Prix at Barcelona’s Circuit de catalunya. This move aims to capitalize on a broader fanbase and deliver a unique racing experience,blending urban street sections with elements reminiscent of traditional European circuits.
Carlos Sainz, currently driving for Ferrari, recently praised the design of the MadRing, emphasizing its unique character. “There are circuits like Baku,wich has no major corners beyond the castle section,but it has character,because it’s very long straights,there’s a lot of overtaking,it’s spectacular,” Sainz stated. He further noted the appeal of Jeddah’s fast corners and expressed his hope that the MadRing would successfully combine the intensity of urban racing with the open flow preferred by many drivers.
“What I ask of MadRing and what we are achieving is that it has that character between being a hybrid circuit,with an urban area with the walls very close and then that more open part,more like a traditional European circuit,which is what we drivers like the most,” Sainz explained. “The final part, the banked corners and fast corner sequences… it’s more what we like and what we see at the traditional European circuits. And this circuit has both, it has the open area and the more closed area of the walls.”
Organizers are now focused on finalizing circuit preparations and logistical planning to accommodate the expected influx of fans. Further ticket releases are planned as construction progresses, with expectations for a full capacity crowd when the 2026 Spanish Grand Prix commences.