Formula One teams prepare for new circuit at Madrid Grand Prix
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Sep 11, 2026, 9:25 AM
Last updated Sep 11, 2026

Formula One drivers and teams arrive in Madrid this weekend to navigate the newly inaugurated Madring circuit. As the championship season progresses, Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli holds a 66-point lead in the standings, while Ferrari faces internal discussions regarding potential championship prioritization for Lewis Hamilton. Elsewhere, teams are managing specific performance benchmarks, ranging from Alpine evaluating recent aerodynamic upgrades to Haas addressing the performance of Esteban Ocon. The new layout presents a fresh technical challenge for the entire field, with teams focused on testing high-downforce setups and adapting to the unknown track surface. While Williams honors its 1981 Madrid history with a commemorative livery, Cadillac remains in pursuit of its first points finish of the season. Following the conclusion of the weekend's events, the series will resume in Baku at the end of September.
- •Kimi Antonelli leads the championship standings by 66 points heading into the Madrid race.
- •Lewis Hamilton sits 76 points behind the championship leader entering the weekend.
- •Isack Hadjar remains sidelined, with Yuki Tsunoda filling his seat for the Racing Bulls.
- •Alpine aims to verify whether its recent performance gains carry over to the Madrid circuit.
- •Cadillac continues to seek its first points finish of the season on the new track.
- 9:25 AMYahoo Sports — F1 Spanish GP: The Key Storyline for Every Team in Madrid
"Every Formula One team has a different problem to solve at the new Madring circuit.
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