PREVIEW: A new challenge awaits at the Madring

After the high-speed blasts around Monza, the FIA Formula 2 Championship rolls on into Madrid for a brand new challenge and one that will seriously test the teams and drivers.

The Madring is a fast street circuit with walls everywhere, ready to punish the smallest of mistakes should the ultimate limit be overstepped.

So with that in mind, here is all you need to know about the Spanish venue and Round 11 of the year.

WHAT TO EXPECT

Free Practice gets things started this weekend with Friday’s 45-minute session going green at 11:05 local time.

Qualifying follows later in the day, with the grid set for both the races at 15:00.

The first wheel-to-wheel action of the round gets going at 14:15 local time on Saturday, with the Sprint Race offering us our first glimpse of F2 racing around the Madring.

Sunday’s Feature Race brings what will surely be a thrilling round to a close, with lights out set for 11:25 local time.

STAT PACK

• The Madring circuit runs to a total length of 5.414Km and features 22 corners, including the banked ‘La Monumental’ Turn 12 in Sector 2 as a highlight.
• Madrid becomes the third Spanish venue after Barcelona and Valencia to host an FIA Formula 2 round.
• Joshua Duerksen’s Feature Race win at Monza moves him level for the all-time wins record in F2 (8).
• Rafael Câmara’s Monza Pole moves him level with George Russell, Oscar Piastri, Felipe Drugovich, Jack Doohan and Victor Martins with five apiece.

FROM THE GRID – Mari Boya, PREMA Racing

“It will be a big challenge for everyone because with the little amount of track time we have and it being a street track where no one’s driven before, preparation will be super important. “Arriving into Qualifying with the right setup and a clear idea driving-wise of what to do in every single corner will be tricky.

“I feel there are big fans of the sport in Madrid, so it will be really cool to have that support and I’m really excited about that.”

TECHNICAL PREVIEW

Pierre-Alain Michot, FIA Formula 2 Technical Director

“The Madring circuit will be a stern test for all of the drivers, with the walls all around the track never far away. Aerodynamic demand is high with the high-speed nature of the Madring, and tyre longevity will be a factor in the races. Those that take care of their Pirelli rubber will be rewarded.

“In terms of braking demand, the biggest stopping point will be at the Turn 5 chicane in the first sector of the lap. Overall, the narrow layout and demanding nature of the track will make Qualifying must-see.”

PIRELLI PREVIEW

Formula 2 cars will have the Hard and Soft compounds available for their debut at the Madring circuit. The choice therefore features a compound gap, aimed at accentuating the performance differential between the two options. In the Feature Race, the strategy that appears quickest on paper involves starting on the Soft and making a pit stop between laps 9 and 12. Temperatures could play a decisive role in stint management: in particularly hot conditions, the Hard could be prone to overheating, resulting in increased sliding and degradation. As this is a completely new circuit, a high likelihood of safety car interventions, as well as the possibility of red flags, can also be expected.