The 2026 Spanish Grand Prix was anything but entertaining. Heading into the weekend, almost everyone in the F1 paddock suspected that the chances of an overtake would be low at the newely constructed Madring Circuit. As the race came, it was nearly impossible to overtake. The only chance of an overtake occurred when the driver ahead made a mistake. Looking for someone to blame, fans took aim at Carlos Sainz Jr., who is the brand ambassador for the Spanish Grand Prix.
During the post-race show with Sky Sports F1, former F1 Champion turned Pundit, Nico Rosberg decided to take aim at Carlos Sainz for the Madring Circuit's flaw. But now, Sainz has come out with his own justification.
Carlos Sainz Jr. defends himself against criticisms towards Madring
Although Sainz did push for the Madring circuit to host the Spanish Grand Prix, he claims that he wasn't involved in the design of the circuit, as it had already happened before he was signed as the brand ambassador.
“When I signed my ambassadorship agreement, the track layout had already been designed and approved by the FIA. I was really annoyed because I would have been thrilled to contribute in some way.”
Madrid Grand Prix 2026
Madring · Madrid — 13 Sept 2026
| Pos | Driver | Team | Time / Status | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | Finished | 25 |
| 2 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull Racing | Finished | 18 |
| 3 | Lando Norris | McLaren | Finished | 15 |
| 4 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | Finished | 12 |
| 5 | George Russell | Mercedes | Finished | 10 |
| 6 | Liam Lawson | Red Bull Racing | Finished | 8 |
| 7 | Franco Colapinto | Alpine | Finished | 6 |
| 8 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren | Finished | 4 |
| 9 | Arvid Lindblad | Racing Bulls | Lapped | 2 |
| 10 | Nico Hülkenberg | Audi | Lapped | 1 |
Looking at the circuit, it seems obvious that an active F1 driver did not design this circuit. F1 drivers love fast corners and a good overtaking opportunity. While this circuit does have fast corners, there are no clear overtaking opportunities.
The Madring circuit has signed a 10-year contract with F1 to host the Spanish Grand Prix. However, F1 fans will not stand for the sport to race in the current layout for the next 10 years. Reports have stated that plans are already underway to make changes to the Madring circuit to increase the chances of overtaking.
What changes can be made to the Madring Circuit?
While it is way too early to see what changes will be made for a race one year from today, there have been talks about certain adjustments in turns 5 & 6. This could open opportunities for a longer straight coming out of turn 3. They could also remove the chicane there to provide more room for cars to go side by side. During the race on Sunday, we saw many cars cut the corner while attempting an overtake because of how narrow that section of the track is.
With 10 more years to go in the current Madring contract, it is clear that the organisers will have to do something to improve the track. Otherwise, the Grand Prix will simply not be able to generate enough revenue to sustain it for 10 years.
