news-engine

Pirelli reveals why it began its Madring preparation three years ago Formula 1 will break new ground next weekend when the Spanish Grand Prix takes place at the brand-new Madring circuit in Madrid, with the 5.416-kilometre venue presenting teams and drivers with one of the most technically demanding challenges of the season. The Madring becomes the latest addition to the Formula 1 calendar and combines a street-circuit section running through Madrid’s exhibition district with a purpose-built permanent section. The circuit features 22 corners, with the standout challenge coming at Turn 12 – the spectacular “Monumental”. The 550-metre-long corner features up to 24% banking, making it unlike almost anything currently found on the Formula 1 calendar. The corner is expected to generate the highest vertical load imposed on tyres anywhere this season. Its combination of significant banking, length and sustained lateral forces will place substantial demands on the cars and their tyres. Pirelli has selected the C2, C3 and C4 compounds for the inaugural Madrid weekend, designated Hard, Medium and Soft respectively. A demanding new challengeThe 5.416-kilometre lap is split into three distinct sections, each presenting a different challenge. The opening sector is particularly fast, with just 200 metres separating the start-finish line from Turn 1. The middle portion then becomes considerably more technical, featuring a series of medium- and low-speed corners before drivers arrive at the banked Monumental. The final sector features several 90-degree corners, creating similarities with the layout drivers are accustomed to at the Baku City Circuit. From a tyre-energy perspective, the Madring is expected to rank among the five most demanding circuits on the Formula 1 calendar. The lateral forces generated are comparable with those experienced at Barcelona and Silverstone, while the Monumental introduces an additional vertical-load challenge. The unique configuration of Turn 12 could also lead to different driving approaches. Drivers will have to balance their speed through the long banked corner against the possibility of attacking into the following turn. Taking more speed through the Monumental could provide an advantage later in the lap, but could also compromise tyre performance and braking stability. Pirelli's preparations began three years agoWith no pre-event testing taking place at the new circuit, tyre preparation has been particularly important. Pirelli began analysing the Madring approximately three years ago, when the first details of the final circuit layout were provided by its designers. Using simulation tools, Pirelli engineers were able to predict the likely racing lines and calculate the loads that would be generated through the lap. Once construction was completed, Pirelli engineers visited the venue to measure the asphalt's macro- and micro-roughness. Those measurements allowed the tyre manufacturer to refine its simulations and prepare a technical briefing for the teams ahead of the circuit's first Formula 1 weekend. The newly laid asphalt is expected to provide relatively low grip because of its smooth surface. To address this, the track has been treated with high-pressure water jets, a process previously used at other venues, including Singapore, to remove dust and oily residues from new asphalt. The resulting grip level will be one of the major unknowns when the cars take to the track for the first time. Teams will therefore have to use the opening free practice session to gather as much data as possible before committing to their tyre strategies for the remainder of the weekend. If the softer C4 compound suffers from greater-than-expected degradation, teams could look to preserve additional sets of C2 Hard tyres for Sunday's race. Elevation adds another dimensionThe Madring also features a significant change in elevation. The highest point of the circuit is located around Turn 7, approximately 700 metres above sea level. The approach from Turn 6 features an 8% gradient and climbs by around 10 metres. At the other end of the circuit, Turn 2 represents the lowest point, creating an overall elevation difference of 26 metres between the lowest and highest sections. The altitude will also influence the behaviour of the cars, while the relatively high elevation of Madrid means that exceptionally hot conditions are not necessarily expected despite the Spanish setting. Last year, temperatures in Madrid reached around 29°C during the same week, but conditions during the inaugural race weekend will ultimately determine how the teams approach tyre management and cooling. A new chapter in MadridAlthough the Madring is a completely new addition to the Formula 1 calendar, Madrid has a long association with the championship. Between 1968 and 1981, the Spanish Grand Prix was held nine times at the Jarama circuit, approximately 30 kilometres from the Spanish capital. Mario Andretti is the most successful driver at Jarama, with two victories, while Lotus leads the constructors' statistics at the venue with four wins. The Spanish Grand Prix itself has a much longer history. Across its 55 editions at five different circuits, Michael Schumacher and Lewis Hamilton share the record for the most victories, with six each. Ferrari is the most successful constructor in the history of the Spanish Grand Prix, having taken 12 victories. Now, the Madring will create a new chapter in that history. The combination of fast sections, tight 90-degree corners, significant elevation changes and the unique Monumental corner should provide Formula 1 with a venue unlike any other on the current calendar. For the teams, however, the biggest challenge will be the lack of prior race data. With no opportunity to test at the circuit beforehand, the first practice session will be crucial as engineers attempt to understand the new asphalt, tyre behaviour and car balance. By the time qualifying arrives, the teams will have only a handful of hours of track running to unlock one of Formula 1's newest and most intriguing circuits.