Construction of the Circuit

Following six months of works, the track now features its three asphalt layers — base, intermediate and wearing course — after a process that has combined technical precision, innovation and complex coordination alongside the daily operations of IFEMA MADRID.

Asphalting works began last December in the Valdebebas area and concluded in the final week of May with the laying of the wearing course, which will be the definitive surface on which the single-seaters will compete.

This phase of pavement installation has represented one of the project’s greatest technical challenges due to the characteristics of the layout and the need to carry out the works with maximum precision in order to meet FIA homologation standards. During these months, teams have worked simultaneously across different sectors of the circuit, progressively completing the various paving stages until reaching the track’s final configuration.

One of the most significant milestones of this phase has been the construction of La Monumental, Turn 12 of the circuit and a future icon of MADRING. Its surfacing required millimetric precision due to its dimensions, banking and geometry, making it the most complex section of the entire layout from a construction standpoint. To ensure continuity and uniformity of the surface, it was necessary to deploy two state-of-the-art pavers operating in synchronisation — an uncommon approach for this type of infrastructure.

In addition to the technical complexity, a major logistical challenge has also been overcome. A substantial part of the works has been carried out within the IFEMA MADRID environment without interrupting the venue’s normal activity, which has continued to host congresses, trade fairs and events throughout the construction process.

With the asphalting now complete, MADRING enters a new phase focused on the final construction works for grandstands and hospitality areas, as well as safety systems and homologation, among others. A decisive step for a circuit that is already beginning to reveal its final configuration and continues to progress in line with the established timeline.

Construction works at MADRING have reached a new milestone with the asphalt paving of the start/finish straight, one of the key sections of the future Formula One Spanish Grand Prix circuit.

The main straight measures 523 metres and will deliver an exciting race start: from pole position to the first corner there are 252 metres, before a highly demanding braking zone that is set to become one of the most spectacular points on the layout.

With this progress, more than 90% of the circuit’s asphalt works have now been completed. The start/finish straight was deliberately left until the final phase in order not to interfere with the regular logistics operations of IFEMA MADRID, and its execution has been made possible by taking advantage of the May public holiday period.

During this week, the completion of the first asphalt layers on corners 2 and 3 is expected, together with the start of works on the intermediate layer of the start/finish straight. Meanwhile, the Valdebebas plot has already been fully asphalted. Works are scheduled to be completed by 31 May, allowing the FIA homologation phase to begin.

The MADRING circuit has reached a major milestone in its construction with the asphalting of La Monumental, the iconic Turn 12, which now features its first layer of pavement. This curve, set to become the signature element of the FORMULA 1 TAG HEUER GRAN PREMIO DE ESPAÑA, stands out for its 550 meter length, semicircular shape, and an extreme 24% banking—the steepest on the calendar. For six seconds, drivers will face an incline rising up to 10 meters high, redefining the very concept of a Formula 1 corner.

Paving this area, the most technically complex section of the track due to its geometry and steep inclination, required millimetric precision and the synchronized use of two next generation pavers. More than 1,800 cubic meters of asphalt mixture were needed, produced in Vicálvaro and laid at 170 degrees to ensure optimal quality.

Meanwhile, construction progresses across the rest of MADRING: the remaining sections in Valdebebas are being asphalted over the coming weeks, the second pavement layer is scheduled for April, and the Pit Building and future team garages are already taking shape. With 172 days to go, MADRING is shaping the unique character that will define the Spanish Grand Prix.

Construction of the MADRING urban circuit continues to progress in line with the planned schedule. This week marks the commencement of asphalting on the section linking the exit of Turn 12 —known as La Monumental— to Turn 17, situated just before the entrance to the tunnel connecting IFEMA MADRID with Valdebebas. This stretch forms one of the circuit’s fastest sectors, combining high‑speed corners with notable changes in elevation.

Asphalting of the remaining parts of the circuit will be carried out progressively over the coming weeks, with the banked corner reserved for last due to its complexity and the specialised treatment it requires.

The works now under way correspond to the first of three necessary layers of asphalt: the base layer, to be followed by the intermediate layer and, finally, the wearing course. The full process is scheduled for completion by 31 May.

Located at IFEMA MADRID, the Pit Building will feature three floors and a maximum height of 18.5 metres. The ground floor will house the garages—where teams work, strategic decisions are made in real time, and the cars remain before heading out onto the track. The building will include 14 modular garages, 11 allocated to the teams and 3 reserved for the FIA, and has been designed to operate at the highest level throughout the race weekend.

The upper floors will host the Paddock Club, one of the most exclusive areas of the championship. Indoor lounges, premium hospitality spaces and panoramic terraces will offer privileged views of the pit lane and the track, allowing guests to experience Formula 1 just metres from the action. An environment conceived for companies, guests and personalities, where sport, technology and experience come together.

The construction of the building is being carried out by Eiffage Construcción and will be directly integrated with IFEMA MADRID’s existing halls through internal connections, staircases and accessible lifts. In addition, the Pit Building and Paddock Club will have a life beyond the Grand Prix: once the event concludes, this infrastructure will become part of the venue’s regular activity, contributing to the enhancement of the South Convention Area as well as Halls 1 and 2.

The recent manhole incident at the Las Vegas Grand Prix not only caused two red flags and delays during free practice; this second episode has also raised concerns among many fans who wonder whether something similar could happen at the FORMULA 1® TAG HEUER SPANISH GRAN PRIX. Although Las Vegas is a street circuit and Madrid will be a semi-urban one, comparisons between the two have always existed due to their recent arrival on the calendar and their shared concept of going beyond traditional on-track activity.

However, such an incident could never occur on the MADRING layout because the FORMULA 1® TAG HEUER GRAN PREMIO DE ESPAÑA 2026 will not feature a single manhole. Last June, in the urban section of the circuit — covering Ribera del Sena Street, Vía de Dublín and Francisco Umbral — work began to divert all utilities and collectors, including the stormwater system. In other words, all manholes were rerouted. This is why there will be none along any part of the Spanish Grand Prix circuit. From the very conception of the project, MADRING was designed as a manhole-free track to ensure that these elements could never interfere with the passage of the single-seaters. Service-diversion work is progressing at a steady pace, just like all other construction milestones.

The next major milestone will be the start of the pit building—one of the most essential and dynamic areas of any Grand Prix, as it will host the teams’ garages, offices and the Paddock Club, one of the most exclusive VIP spaces.

In the construction of the Formula 1 Madrid Grand Prix, the focus has not only been on the circuit itself but also on doing it in an environmentally responsible way. That’s why MADRING has implemented several initiatives to reduce emissions, such as using battery-powered tools instead of gasoline or diesel generators. This means less smoke, less noise, and fewer greenhouse gas emissions. A pilot project with portable solar panels has also been launched to supply electricity to on-site offices, changing rooms, and dining areas. This system can store energy, replace traditional generators, and provides 100% renewable power. When it comes to waste management, all materials that can be reused are given a second life, and different types of waste are properly separated. Recyclable materials are prioritized, and the old asphalt will be recycled and reused as the base layer for the new surface. A large portion of the excess soil generated during earthworks will be reused on-site to build specific parts of the circuit, such as “La Monumental,” reducing heavy road transport and, therefore, the carbon footprint.

We are now entering the fifth month of construction at MADRING, and work is progressing according to plan on the Valdebebas site, with several sections even running a month ahead of the originally scheduled timeline. More than 400 trees have already been successfully transplanted. The underpass that will allow people to move between the fan zone and the Monumental area already has its side walls in place and will be covered this month. In addition, the circuit’s most iconic corner is now complete, so that together with other sections in Valdebebas, we can begin the paving phase in the second half of October.

This area, where trenches and excavators are currently at work, will soon become the paddock and pit lane for the Spanish Grand Prix. While activity slows down during the summer season, work inside IFEMA MADRID is progressing at full speed to prepare one of MADRING's most special areas.

Several of the century-old olive trees from the Valdebebas area now have a new home. Specifically, six of these trees, previously located in two roundabouts along Vía de Dublín, were transplanted this week and now reside within IFEMA MADRID. These trees, each with over a hundred years of history, are now integrated into their new surroundings, aligned with two other specimens already present on the premises-all of which are visible from Avenida de Partenón.

From the outset, the construction project for MADRING has been firmly committed to sustainability and to preserving the area's trees. In just two and a half months since the beginning of the works, 177 out of the 585 planned transplants have already been completed—representing 30% of the total. In recent months, around 50 trees have been replanted in the Mata Espesa fort area, alongside the palm trees relocated in a previous phase. This zone will become one of the greenest areas of the circuit.

Work on the Valdebebas site began a month ago and is proceeding according to the established roadmap. In fact, the peak of earth movement has been reached, with more than 12 thousand cubic metres being moved per day. Construction work on the MADRING circuit is environmentally friendly. For example, one third of the palm trees on the Valdebebas site have been transplanted to Francisco Umbral Street. The rest will follow in the next few days. In addition, solar panels are being installed to supply the 27 construction huts with renewable energy.

The MADRING track is starting to show its curves. And not just any curve.  The Monumental, the most emblematic of the Spanish Grand Prix, opens its way and the image from the air is already dizzying. A 550-metre corner, with a 24% banking. A real challenge for the drivers.

The MADRING works are being executed by the joint venture formed by ACCIONA (60%) and Eiffage Construction (40%). The contract includes, in addition to the construction work, the installation and subsequent dismantling of temporary structures. They will also be responsible for restoring the public roads to their original state after each Grand Prix.