Spanish Transport Minister: Madrid Race Was a Complete Failure

Spain's Minister of Transport, Óscar Puente, has sharply criticized the inaugural Spanish Grand Prix at Madrid's new "Madring" circuit, labeling it a "complete failure." In a Twitter post, he asserted that the track's design made overtaking virtually impossible. Puente likened the "Madring" circuit to Monaco 2, noting that the Spanish track was only marginally faster.

Puente is the first government official to voice what millions of Formula 1 fans witnessed and thought, left bewildered by the dull race on a circuit that replaced the Catalan track near Barcelona.

Furthermore, Puente shared another angry post from a fan group demanding the dismissal of everyone responsible for the "Madring" design.

This political intervention adds a new dimension to the growing dissatisfaction with the Madrid circuit, which is already under immense pressure for changes after its debut race, where overtaking was almost non-existent.

The French daily "L'Équipe" was particularly scathing, describing the track as a "deadly sleep machine," a sentiment echoed by Audi driver Gabriel Bortoleto, who remarked, "I almost fell asleep."

Formula 1 World Champion Lando Norris, who finished third in the Spanish Grand Prix, stated that it should have been obvious the track didn't meet standards.

The McLaren driver suggested a change modeled after the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, calling for a "straight line from turn 17 to 20" with a "much wider entry like turn 1 or 10 in Austin, a big sharp corner." Norris added bluntly, "For me, this isn't a great racing track."

Antonelli concluded that "there are some corners that need to be changed to create more overtaking opportunities, because right now, yes, it's enjoyable for one lap, but in the race, you're just stuck behind."