Carlos and Alex ready for Madrid’s new challenge
Carlos set for his “first true home race in Madrid” as Formula 1 debuts at the Circuito de Madring
Published
10 SEP 2026
Est. reading time
2 min
The 2026 Formula 1 season heads to Madrid for Round 14 and a brand-new challenge at the Madring. With no previous race data to draw on and every team starting from scratch, the Spanish Grand Prix promises to be a weekend of discovery as Atlassian Williams F1 Team looks to quickly understand the new venue.
For Carlos Sainz, the weekend carries even greater significance as he prepares for his first true home race in Madrid, returning to the city where his motorsport journey began.
“It’s a big race for me this week - my first true home race in Madrid, and it’s been even more special seeing this circuit come together over the past few months. It’s going to be a fun track to drive and very challenging too, with a lot of high-speed corners and the banking at La Monumental. It’s an honour to be bringing F1 back to Madrid where I drove a kart for the first time, and to race in front of the incredible home crowd who have supported me throughout my career. It’s going to be amazing I can’t wait to get out there!”
Hometown hero x Superheroes
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Alex Albon is also looking forward to experiencing the new circuit for the first time and racing in front of the passionate Spanish fans.
“There’s some work to do heading in to Madrid, but with a brand new track everyone is starting from zero. From what I’ve seen in the simulator the track is a bit like Macau but also mixed with Jeddah and Zandvoort, it’s an impressive layout. There are limited overtaking opportunities so qualifying is going to be the key session, and it will be important to get up to speed quickly in the free practice sessions. I’m looking forward to getting to Madrid, seeing the Spanish fans and Carlos’ home race. Vamos!”
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