Formula 1 has spent 45 years away from Madrid, so a discreet return was never really on the cards. The new Madring circuit arrives with 22 corners, elevation changes and a half-kilometre banked curve called La Monumental. It is a bold piece of track design dropped into one of Europe’s great city-break destinations — exactly the sort of combination that makes a new Grand Prix difficult to ignore.
The 5.416km lap mixes public roads with purpose-built sections around IFEMA Madrid and Valdebebas. The headline act is La Monumental, but the circuit also has a long straight, heavy braking zones and a twisting final sector. This is not simply a race in Madrid; it is Madrid attempting to build a modern Formula 1 venue with an identity of its own.
The inaugural Madrid Grand Prix takes place from 11-13 September 2026. This first version of our guide explains the ticket formats, identifies the grandstands that look most interesting and, crucially, helps you choose the right route to a venue split into separate North and South areas.
Madrid Grand Prix tickets
Public tickets are three-day products covering the full Grand Prix weekend. Grandstand tickets come with a numbered seat, while Pelouse is the flexible, unallocated general-admission choice. There is also a Turn 3 standing platform facing towards the circuit’s longest straight and pit-lane area.
Children require their own ticket, apart from those under three who do not occupy a seat. Minors must also meet the published accompaniment conditions, so families should check that every member of the group has the correct ticket before travelling.
Madrid Grand Prix ticket options and packages are available from P1 Travel.
Where to watch at the Madrid Grand Prix
Madring has not yet hosted a Formula 1 race or a full spectator weekend, so we can’t know the final sightlines, queues and atmosphere of each spectator section. We can however get a pretty good idea of what to expect based on the finished circuit layout and the advertised location of each grandstand.
Start-finish and early-lap grandstands
Section 1A Gold, Section 1 Gold, Section 1 Gold First rows and Section 2 Gold occupy the main-straight territory. These are the seats for the grid build-up, race start, pit-lane activity, chequered flag and podium rather than an extended sequence of corners. The First rows option puts you closest to the action but below the grandstand roof line, so regular Section 1 Gold is the more practical choice if cover matters. Section 2 Gold adds a view towards the pit exit and the opening part of the lap.
For more racing movement, look beyond the start line. Section 2A Silver sits around the pit exit and approach to Turn 2, while Sections 3, 4 and Section 5 Bronze follow the cars towards the first chicane. This group trades ceremony for braking and direction change. Section 5 Bronze is the strongest layout-based bet here because it focuses attention on the chicane rather than the straight alone; Sections 3 and 4 keep more of the approach in the picture.
Las Carcavas and La Monumental grandstands
Section 6A Team FIFTY5 is the obvious home for Carlos Sainz supporters. Its fan identity is the selling point; readers choosing entirely on track position should compare it with the neighbouring options. Section 6 Bronze follows the climb through Las Carcavas, where the track rises at 8%, while Section 7 Silver shifts the focus to Turn 11 and the approach to the circuit’s showpiece.
La Monumental is the first place I would look for Madring’s signature spectacle. Section 9 Gold, Section 9A Silver, Section 10A Silver and Section 10 Silver wrap around the great banked curve, putting the circuit’s most distinctive feature at the centre of the experience. The choice within the group is about angle and budget category rather than a completely different type of view: all four are for spectators who want Madring at its most theatrical.
Section 11 Silver Plus sits at the exit of La Monumental and adds the practical benefit of cover. It is the sensible alternative for anyone who likes the idea of the banked section but values shelter and the acceleration away from it. Section 12 Silver moves the emphasis to the Turn 13 braking zone, making it the sharper choice for fans who would swap some spectacle for a better look at the cars slowing and changing direction.
Valdebebas Esses, Pelouse and the standing platform
Section 8 Silver Plus and Section 8A Silver Plus cover the transition from the exit of La Monumental towards the Valdebebas Esses. Section 13 Silver Plus is positioned around Turn 13, Sections 14 and 15 Bronze follow the cars through the Esses, and Section 16 Silver takes the sequence on towards Turn 17. Collectively, these are the grandstands for readers who prefer linked corners and visible changes of direction to the pageantry of the main straight. Section 13 is the braking-focused pick; Sections 14 and 15 put the corner sequence first; Section 16 catches the later phase of the lap.
Pelouse is the less structured alternative. There is no allocated seat, so it suits spectators who value flexibility and are prepared to arrive with a plan for claiming a spot. The separate Turn 3 standing platform is a more targeted product, aimed towards the longest straight and pit lane. Choose it for that specific orientation, not as a substitute for the freedom of general admission or the comfort of a numbered grandstand seat.
Getting to Madring
Before thinking about trains, Metro lines or taxis, check whether your ticket is for MADRING North or MADRING South. The two areas are not connected inside the circuit, so following a generic route to ‘Madring’ is not enough — your section-specific gate should decide the journey.
For MADRING South, Feria de Madrid station on Metro Line 8 is the default arrival point. For MADRING North, Valdebebas station on the CercanÃas C-1 line is the main rail option. Mar de Cristal, Canillas and San Lorenzo are useful alternatives for certain gates, but the best choice depends on the access instructions attached to your ticket.
EMT buses, event shuttle services, taxis and private-hire drop-off areas provide additional options. There is no on-site public parking and general private-vehicle access is unavailable. A limited off-site parking and shuttle arrangement from the Metropolitano area provides a secondary choice, but public transport remains the straightforward starting point for most spectators.
