Can you picture Madrid becoming a must‑see F1 stop? Williams chief James Vowles hailed the Spanish debut as a standout event despite early hurdles.
The brand‑new Madrid circuit hosted its first Grand Prix last weekend. New street tracks often stumble at first, yet Vowles commended the organizers’ execution.
‘First and foremost, kudos to the organisers,’ Vowles said on his latest Vowles Verdict episode. ‘It’s the inaugural race, so chaos is expected, but Madrid proved otherwise.’
He added it could quickly rank among the season’s highlights. Just a half‑hour metro ride from the city centre, the venue is incredibly accessible.
The layout offers vast space—perhaps ten times the usual area. That means larger crowds, though it also means your shoes wear out sprinting between pits and grandstands.
Critics did note a lack of overtaking zones, urging tweaks for 2027 to boost the spectacle. In my view, Madrid’s layout could reshape the calendar.
‘The track is very technical,’ Vowles continued. ‘Drivers found it a tough yet enjoyable challenge.’
‘Racing suffered slightly, but I’m confident organisers will fine‑tune it for next year,’ he said.
Carlos Sainz, Williams
‘It was a tough Grand Prix for us,’ Vowles admitted. ‘We entered knowing the difficulty, and our car’s performance has lagged far too long, leaving us behind rivals.’
‘Looking at the softer compounds—the soft and medium—we saw tyre graining, causing a sharp drop in lap‑time performance, especially on long runs, not in qualifying.’
‘Conversely, the hard tyre held up well; several cars ran it almost the entire race. Pirelli delivered the right rubber for the event.’
‘The tarmac was in good condition, but the key issue remains: we need more overtaking opportunities in future editions. Otherwise, well done on a brilliant debut.’
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– The Team