Carlos Sainz tests new Madrid F1 circuit in Ford Mustang GTD

Carlos Sainz senior drove a Ford Mustang GTD around the newly built Madrid street‑circuit, dubbed MADRING, ahead of the Spanish Grand Prix scheduled for 11‑13 September 2026. He said the layout is physically demanding, with few opportunities for drivers to rest, and highlighted the long, sweeping La Monumental corner as especially tough.

The 5.4‑km hybrid track combines newly constructed sections with about 1.5 km of public roads, features 22 turns and is still under construction, so the run was not timed. Sainz had previously inspected the site in a Ford F‑150 Raptor and his son, Carlos Sainz Jr., had taken a lap in a Mustang Dark Horse. The Mustang GTD, a 826‑hp, carbon‑fiber‑bodied car homologated for road use, allowed him to evaluate the circuit’s braking zones, corner exits and acceleration areas.

The circuit, located at the IFEMA exhibition centre, will host its first Formula 1 race in September 2026, marking Madrid’s debut on the F1 calendar.