Generally, there are two roads to take when assessing an inaugural Formula One grand prix. The first: the show, the core parameters by which F1’s glitzy American owners judge their events. And in this respect Madrid, with a sold-out 353,000 spectators across three days at the brand-new street circuit in the northeast of the city, has been something of a success.
Yet the race? The actual sport? It has to be said: less impressive. There were always concerns about the action out on-track on Sunday, given the narrow, twisty nature of this 22-turn circuit next to Real Madrid’s training ground. Without a significant shunt and red-flag-induced drama, overtaking proved as difficult as expected. It wasn’t a complete snooze-fest but compared to the first Las Vegas race in 2023 – the last new track on the calendar, which enjoyed an action-packed Grand Prix after earlier logistical issues – the new Spanish GP in the capital failed to fire.
