F1 Explains: Making the Madring

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1:06Hello everybody, welcome to F1 Explains. My name is Christian Hugill. This is the official Formula One podcast that lives and breathes to explain this brilliant world of Formula One. F1explains at f1.com is our email address. Send us some emails about anything you like really within reason on Formula One and we will find the best people in the paddock to answer them. That is exactly what Stephanie in Texas did. My favourite stop on the Formula One calendar, Austin, Texas. Stephanie said she really wanted us to record an episode all about the Madring. Of course, Formula One's new home of the Spanish Grand Prix with Madrid making its debut on the calendar this weekend.

1:47So Stephanie, you are getting the F1 Explains gold treatment here we are dedicating an entire episode to your questions we'll answer those questions about this new track during this show and who better to answer them than the man who made history by completing the first ever laps of the madgering in the passenger seat next to carlos signs i like this corner turn one is nice i can feel that you're building a bit more confidence Now I know the track This is going to be super quick I love this corner Look at the grip

2:22Lawrence Barretto:It just sticks

2:27Lawrence Barretto:That was nice He is Madrid's favourite child Of course he is Favourite child of F1 Explains F1 Correspondence Lawrence Barreto Is here Did you like that did you? That was incredible I love that Sorry I got too excited You are F1 Explains favourite child. Don't tell Alex Jakes, but yeah, you can't have favourite children, but I guess we do all Laura Winter. How are you, Lawrence Barreto? I am all the better for chatting to you, Christian, and having intros like that. So thanks very much for having me back. It's always a joy. And so, you know, working with Mr. Barreto, I knew he was doing this alongside Mr.

3:04Sainz. That lap looked absolutely epic. I was so excited when I found out you were doing this. What was it like being driven by Carlos? And, of course, what were your first impressions of the circuit?

3:17Lawrence Barretto:I mean, as dream days in the office go, that is right up there. And I know I've been lucky to do a lot of cool things. But what was particularly cool for me is I've known Carlos since he entered F1 in 2015. He's never given me a hot lap before. You know, I've forgiven him for that. That should have happened sooner, shouldn't it? Exactly. Yeah. Carlos, are you listening? but obviously it was great to have that opportunity because I knew that he would try and scare me as quickly as possible but the whole lap around that he did exactly that but it was a phenomenal experience Christian to have an opportunity to see a track that he's been so involved with in trying to advise, assist the promoters in kind of getting this event and this track in shape Well I was going to say you know Carlos better than most he's really passionate about this isn't he absolutely like you called him madrid's favorite child like he loves the city that he was born in that he lived in that he spent so much of his life in and that just oozes through when he talks about the city so for to have the opportunity to spend a lot of time driving around the circuit where it's going to be his first home race in madrid so he's done many races in barcelona to have that opportunity was was super cool and you could just seen his face it was like a kid in a candy shop yeah like he was just very excited to to be driving a we had a ford mustang which was very cool to drive around uh the circuit and that he was that was the first time right he'd heard about it he talked about it he'd seen it but that was the first time he took a car out around there and he would barely wanted to talk to start with because he was so fully focused and wanted to understand what he had to play with well we just played a clip of it a little earlier you can still see the video on formula one's youtube channel but what i loved about it was that like obviously of course now the Grand Prix weekend is here the circuit is ready but like the circuit still looked like it was being built it's so rare to see you're doing the map of the circuit but with it all still coming up around you what were those first impressions of it well when we got there they had just officially finished the lane of the track and that was essentially obviously there were plenty of work going on in and around it but it was like you're in the desert because obviously you were surrounded by a lot of unfinished facilities which was part of the plan but what was incredible about it was that it was just us out there obviously no one was really watching us we had all of the time in the world they'd shot the roads the police had shot the roads basically because obviously part of the track is um on public roads so obviously that meant that they had to formally close it uh for us to do these hot laps which was very good of them and to have the chance to see where it's set so it's sitting at the airport about five minutes drive away it's about 20 minutes drive outside of downtown madrid and it was just a chance to see how it navigates through the various cool little neighborhoods real madrid's training ground is behind one of the fan zones and carlos science obviously a massive real madrid fan so seeing those kind of sites going past and what it meant to kind of pass those kind of historic places was was pretty cool but what was particularly weird about it is you're obviously driving around this trap there's no grandstands there's no hospitality there's just nothing there you are it feels like you're in a computer game in many ways on a simulator but obviously you're not in real life you're driving past a petrol station at one point um there you're going up like a ramp over a roundabout you're going under a highway it was just like they'd closed the roads for us and it was probably it's potentially the only time i'm ever going to get that kind of feeling if shut a city down for Carlos Sides to drive me around.

6:52Lawrence Barretto:And it was awesome. It was great. He had his mouth open for a lot of it. And I don't know if many people have seen memes on social media, but when he's concentrating, he tends to leave his mouth open. I've spoken to him about these memes. And it's just very funny when you see it in real life, that element of focus. And obviously he had his concentrated face on. But what did he think of the circuit? So obviously he'd spent a little bit of time kind of doing fly-throughs in computer-generated things, but he'd never physically driven it. And I think his initial pressure was, he was far more surprised at how good it was.

7:26Lawrence Barretto:We were coming up the turn, up towards the turn seven, eight chicanes. It's just up over a ramp. And he was like giggling to himself as we were going up there because he was like, oh my God, this is pretty cool. And then as you get to the kind of, it breaks into the chicane, it's like a whole different world appears. It's like Narnia basically appears. and you dip down into the purpose-built part of the circuit. And it's just like he's doing oohs and ahs, like you're on a roller coaster as we're kind of making our way around. And then he stops biting his tongue when he's properly trying to focus.

8:00Lawrence Barretto:And he's got his fingertips on the steering wheel, so he's not even gripping it like presumably you and I would do when we're terrified as we go around there. He's using his fingertips to guide the car around. It was a beautiful thing to see. A light, relaxed grip on a road car, if you like. Yeah, it's optimal for that sort of thing. It really helps. You've described it brilliantly, Lawrence. I enjoyed listening to that, let alone being in the car. The corner that everyone is talking about with this track is, I'm not famed for my ability to say... Give it a go. Yeah, to say words like this. La Monumental?

8:38Lawrence Barretto:La Monumental, yeah. Yeah, okay. And I've been practicing it because basically Carlos said I was saying it wrong when we were doing it rather laptop. This is the thing. I don't think either of us are going to say it with Spanish flair. Listen, we've tried our best. Le Monumental. And we've had an email from a listener, Gabriel, on this one. Gabriel says, Hi, Christian and the F1 Explains team. I'm Gabriel, and I'm flying in from Beirut for my first ever F1 race at the Madrid Grand Prix. Gabriel, that's amazing. I'll be sitting at Le Monumental for all three days. What can I expect? Well, firstly, what a race as your first Grand Prix to go to.

9:10Lawrence Barretto:Secondly, what a location for you to be sat at. When we went through Le Manu Matal, it's a 24 % gradient. It's a very, very steep banked corner, kind of like a hairpin. And there were no grandstands there. So I don't think we got the full feeling of what it's going to be like when the drivers are there. But with the grandstands now up on either side, I think there's hospitality on the inside, grandstands on the outside. It's going to feel like they're in a ball ring. It's going to feel like they're going through like this tunnel of fans. It's going to be a burst of colour, presumably of yellow and red, of the Spanish flags that they've painted on the inside, but also the fans that are going to pack the place out.

9:47Lawrence Barretto:And it's going to feel like a cacophony of noise, and almost like you're going like Rainbow Road, maybe, through on Super Mario Kart. It's going to be like... I want a lovely reference. You know? Yeah. It's going to be an incredible experience then. But I think from a racing perspective, because it's actually quite wide, in theory, we were talking about the fact you could get maybe three cars wide through that corner. I think in reality, it probably will end up being two because the car's a little bit wider. But the very fact you can take so many different lines through this corner that you could see cars going side by side, potentially through this corner, means that where you're sat is going to be pretty special, particularly as that section then leads on to what Carlos has said is the best overtaken opportunity.

10:27Lawrence Barretto:So long as you get that section right and you follow the car closely enough, then there's a good overtaken opportunity as you pop out of that. It's all very exciting. Lawrence, stay there just a moment. We're going to hear more from you later, but now we're going to hear from Carlos Jimenez. He is the Madrings Chief Operating Officer. I spoke to him a little earlier in the week to find out how this track has come to life. Well, it has been a relatively long journey, but the time has passed very, very fastly. It was four years ago in summer 2022 that we heard, at least in the technical department, that I managed, the first conversations were taking place to consider the possibility to host a Formula One race in a brand new circuit here in Madrid because we had Formula One like 40 years ago in a traditional and spectacular circuit, but it's no longer homologated for hosting modern Formula One races.

11:32we are a venue center where we host events but we never dreamed of hosting a Formula One Grand Prix because we didn't have a circuit in that in that moment and that's when all started four years ago. And how did you go from an idea a dream almost four years ago to the reality of us just being hours away now from the first Spanish Grand Prix in Madrid of this modern era? With a lot of work of many, many people. So there has been almost 5 ,000 professionals working on this project since the very beginning. You need to design from scratch the circuit. You need to adapt the circuit to the urban circumstances around the circuit because we have to keep in mind that this is a circuit built inside a city.

12:26So it's not easy because you have to consider a lot of regulation, limitations. So that is when you start shaping out how the circuit could be. That work takes longer than the actual construction works. We spent more hours and time preparing the site, getting the permits, designing the track, than the actual construction, which has been in record time, less than one year. Yeah, it's all popped up very quickly. And talk to us about the design of the track. What were you trying to achieve with the actual circuit itself? There is a main challenge, which is a major highway connecting the city centre with the airport, which is very, very close to the circuit.

13:15then that highway has to be crossed two times by the circuit because we have two sections basically in the circuit, a more urban city-like street circuit in the south section and a relatively traditional circuit layout in the north section. So it's a kind of a hybrid circuit with two separate sections which are divided by a major highway. We have two tunnels crossing the highway, so the circuit goes under the highway on both tunnels, and we had a blank piece of paper in the north section where we could design almost whatever we wanted because there was a massive plot of land where we could design the circuit half a million square meters to create very iconic parts, like La Monumentaire, for instance.

14:11But in the south section, we have to make the circuit compatible with the existing public roads and also with the existing infrastructure of IFEMA. So in a way, it's similar to other Grand Prix and circuits. Like, for instance, Miami has similarities around a stadium. We are around a congress center in the south. but in the north section it was a blank piece of paper where we could design almost whatever we wanted. Because you've also got with Formula One the paddock, you've got grandstands, you've got room for thousands and thousands of people. Was that a challenge to fit all that in, in the heart of Madrid which anyone who's ever been will tell you is a busy city?

14:57Yeah, it has been challenging but at the end we took advantage of what we already had in the south, in the exhibition halls So we have a very singular pit building with two sections divided in two and connected by an existing building, which is very iconic with a glass facade, direct views to the track and to the pits. And the adaptation has not been so hard in the south. in the north what we had as i mentioned before is a huge plot of land where we put the track but it's also that we had to design a entertainment offer around the track in that piece of land so we have created the biggest fan zone in any grand prix it's completely massive well i'm very excited to see that and let's talk about the circuit itself so many tracks on our calendar have their iconic sections, their iconic corners.

15:58Of course, we've got the likes of Maggots and Beckys at Silverstone. What everybody is talking about for this race, and excuse my poor Spanish accent here, Carlos, is La Monumental. Talk to us about that corner. And what's the aim of it to have that sort of talking point corner that so many other tracks on the calendar have? Well, for sure, we wanted to create something iconic in the circuit. and it's a landmark probably in the circuit and in the city. We have here in La Monumentale a banquet curb, which is going to be the steepest in the calendar from this year on and the longest banquet curb.

16:43And despite the angle, it could be an interesting point in the exit and in the entrance with the new engines. So we might see very interesting strategias of the teams in that particular section, not only La Monumental, but also in the turns right after and right before. It's going to mark probably the different strategies of the teams. That part is interesting, but we also have the stretch between turn five and nine with downhill and uphill sections, which are going to be also interesting in terms of battery strategy. And of course, we love a bit of strategy. We love a strategic battle. But all Formula One fans want to know around the world.

17:34Can we see close, exciting on track racing on this circuit? Sure, sure. As I mentioned before, it's not a traditional street circuit. It's something completely new that we haven't seen before. It's a mix between both walls, street circuits, traditional circuits. There is a lot of expectation around the track, not only because it's new, obviously, but because it's very, very singular. So I myself and we behind the project, all the professionals behind the project, have a huge expectation on what is going to happen during the race. Well, we're very excited, Carlos. And you mentioned what a long journey it's been putting on any major sporting event is, let alone building a Formula One Grand Prix from scratch.

18:28What will it mean to you when you're able to see cars on track for the first time? I think I'm not going to believe it because we spent, myself obviously, all the teams that I manage have spent, as I mentioned before, almost four years or four years and a half trying to get this dream done. There was, in the beginning, a lot of difficulties. The journey itself has been challenging, but very, very rewarding from a professional and personal perspective. We are an event company, obviously. We are not a motorsport company, but we had a very interesting background in terms of events organization. And this has been, without any doubt, the most challenging project of many, many professionals in this company, including me, so far.

19:27And it's going to be very, very probably emotional when the race ends on Sunday. And then I know what you all like, you organisers of Grand Prix, the race will end on Sunday. You'll have a brief moment of celebration and then you'll be thinking about next year and it all goes again. yes correct well we need to dismantle part of the circus especially in in this south section where we are right now in these offices because we need to celebrate more events but for sure as with other promoters and other circuits there will be many lesson learned in this first inaugural edition and we had to apply them as soon as the next next year for getting that done and we have already understood that in the process that we have followed for the construction to be on time for second uh for the second year for the second edition with all the improvements we need to start working as soon as monday after the race so there is gonna be little time to celebrate and almost no time to waste to be on time again well give yourself time for at least one glass of champagne won't you?

20:41At least one little celebration. Yeah, yeah. Carlos, listen, all the very best with it. We're so excited for the weekend and thanks so much for taking the time to talk to us on F1 Explains. It's been great to talk to you. It has been fantastic. Thank you very much for your interest and we see you in Madrid.

21:06Welcome back to F1 Explains the Mad Ring. Before the break, You heard my chat with Carlos Jimenez, the Chief Operating Officer of the Madring. Really interesting to talk to him. Also earlier in the podcast, we heard the insight and wisdom of F1 correspondent Lawrence Barreto, who did the first ever lap of the Madring, sat alongside Carlos Sainz. Lawrence, we're going to answer some of Stephanie's quickfire questions about the track now. Stephanie's questions are why we're doing this episode of F1 Explains. And by the way, you can email us, f1explains at f1.com. and who knows, we might make an episode about your question or answer them in one of our quickfire shows.

21:41Stephanie's first question. Laurenciarelli, we are doing a bit of quickfire here. We've got a few to get through. Where are the most overtakes expected to happen?

21:48Lawrence Barretto:So I reckon in the section just after Le Monumental, I think the cars will be able to follow each other pretty quick through there and then I believe it's the left-hander they'll be able to get into there. Any guesses on whether the tyre compounds may lead towards the softer or harder tyres in the range? Well, I'm cheating a little bit here, giving Pirelli and Verona a nudge what it's going to be. Any clues, anything that could give you a possible hint other than Pirelli telling you literally the answer. Yeah, I know. Thank you, Pirelli. Well done, Pirelli. And listen, that's what we paid them for.

22:18Well done.

22:18Lawrence Barretto:It's the medium range of tyres. It'll be the C2, the C3 and the C4. There you go. Fabulous. Now, it is, as you said earlier, Lawrence, it is part street track, part purpose built. Yeah. What challenges does that present the drivers? It reminds me a little bit of Vegas, which has only got a small section on public roads, but that's the same thing. What type of challenge does that present a driver? It's just that you're going to get two sections where you're going to want one car set up for the faster parts. And you're going to want one car set up really for the much slower parts. The bit when they're going through the industrial estate towards the end of the lap on the public streets.

22:54Lawrence Barretto:It's lots of 90 degree corners, kind of like Baku. and then you're going to want a very different car setup for the first part of that when it is much faster when you're going through that sweeping section through la monumentale the purpose-built section where actually there's a great um massive fan zones from a viewing perspective it's going to be spectacular so i think it's going to be very challenging for um the engineers to kind of get that purpose set up which is why practice on that friday is going to be uber important to kind of get the car set up in the right window for the benefit of those newer to Formula One all of the teams have simulators drivers can drive simulations of their car to test setups to test new parts in theory we sort of get used to those simulators having tracks that we have been racing at for years and years Silverstone for example but this is a brand new track so when were the teams able to drive the track on the sim of course in this case you're not just thinking car you're thinking I'm getting used to this new circuit which you You know, it's not like it's a circuit that Portimao, for example, where we're coming back to next season in Formula One, where some of the rookies might have driven it in other parts of their junior career, but not in Formula One.

24:02Nobody's driven this before. It's a new circuit. So when were they able to drive it on the sim?

24:06Lawrence Barretto:Well, Carlos was actually in the sim just before he got to the Dutch Grand Prix. That was his first time that he got the opportunity to compare what he'd done in the Ford Mustang with me. And he'd done a few laps after that. It's not long, really. No, it's a matter of a few weeks, really, to kind of get started. But that's more the nature of this season is so busy that you want to put your focus on upcoming races. So I think they've just left it to a little bit later, three or four weeks out, just because that's the natural next step to kind of get in there. Stephanie, thank you for your questions.

24:36F1explains at F1.com if you want to send some of your own. I said at the start of the podcast, Madrid making its debut. I actually think I was wrong there. What I should have said is its modern day debut because this isn't the first time Madrid has hosted a Formula One Grand Prix. Again, a similar thing to Vegas here, which hosted a Grand Prix a long, long time ago before the modern day Vegas at Caesars Palace. Over 40 years ago, there was a Madrid-based race in Girama, which is a purpose-built facility around 30 kilometres north of the city. Lawrence, this will be a very different experience, won't it?

25:11You touched upon this a little bit at the start when you spoke about the proximity to the airport, that sort of thing. What can fans expect?

25:17Lawrence Barretto:well i think the thing that was most noticeable for me for a street track was how wide it was so i think what we'll see is actually cars being able to go side by side far more easily than they would at maybe a traditional racetrack on a street circuit where it's just obviously more narrow because they're stuck with the streets that they've got i think the very fact that madrid were able to do a part permanent part street track version meant they had utter control over that section where they have built this new banked corner to make it as wide as possible to open up the opportunities to put some elevation change in there to allow drivers to have opportunities to overtake so I think from that perspective it will be a very different street track to what we've seen in the past also it will be in the city so it will look cool the backdrops will look cool the way that they've gone about painting the place doing putting artwork up it will be a very special very unique, very Madrid-Spanish-esque race.

26:14Lawrence Barretto:And I think you'll feel that for anyone who gets the joy of going to that race. I'm very, very excited. Just finally, and this is a cruel question, but I know you'll cope with it. I'm asking you to predict the future, given we've not had any hints of this before. Any teams or drivers you think it will suit? Obviously, Carlos might have a little one-lap advantage, given his lap with you. But other than that, any teams or drivers you think it would suit? I mean, that is cruel, Christian. But I'll give it my best shot. It shows you how high a steam I hold you that I think you can predict the future.

26:43Lawrence Barretto:Why thanks? Why thanks? I think that actually there won't be anyone who will be worried about the fact that Carlos had a few laps in a road car, that Ferrari did a bit of a filming day either there as well or they had a bit of learning. Because actually these drivers are so good within five, six, seven laps of practice, they'll already have the eye and given, as you said earlier, Christian, they will spend time on the simulator learning it. But I think it will be more suited to those kind of drivers who like street tracks, who kind of like the uncertainty of what the track conditions are going to be like.