Featured Image Credit: Tyrone Hesbrook (Nukedrop on X)
Topics: Fan Reactions, Formula 1
Tom Jenkins
An onboard simulation of the new Madrid Grand Prix has been created, and fans are concerned about the safety of one corner in particular.
Formula 1 announced this week that the Spanish Grand Prix would be held in Madrid, rather than the Circuit de Catalunya which has held the event since 1991.
The capital last held a grand prix in 1981, but will take over the reins as the Spanish track on the calendar from 2026.
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The layout of the circuit was also revealed alongside the announcement with the track having some extremely unique elements.
The circuit will be part street circuit and part classic race track and will be built around the IFEMA exhibition centre with 20 corners and a distance of 5.47km.
The first glimpse at what a hot lap will look like around Madrid has now been revealed, as a simulation has been created by Tyrone Hesbrook and shared by the official Williams E-sports team.
The simulation is in the ballpark of the expected lap time of 1 minute 32 seconds, so this could be extremely close to what we see in 2026 but we will not know for sure how F1 cars perform around the circuit until the actual race.
Following the release of the simulation fans have taken to social media to raise concerns, with two sections of the track in particular dividing fans.
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Turn five of the circuit is an extremely high-speed chicane where drivers would be approaching at top speed, with little to no run of area if they misjudge braking.
The track also features an extremely large 180-degree hairpin. The simulation shows the corner as completely flat out, which again would raise safety concerns if a driver were to lose it in similar circumstances to Lando Norris in Vegas.
The only difference to the accident in Vegas would be drivers would have nowhere to go if they were to crash in the hairpin, with other cars approaching at top speed from a blind bend.
The simulation received hundreds of comments and replies, with the majority focussing on the safety concerns the track could bring.
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One fan replied: "Turn five is so dangerous bro."
Another added: "How is turn five allowed?"
One X user replied by clipping up the turn in question and made their opinion very clear on the corner: "This chicane is a death trap."
A fourth reply compared the track to another of the new additions to the calendar writing: "That looks more dangerous than Jeddah."
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It is important to note that the FIA and F1 have made incredible safety advancements in recent years, with the invention of the halo undoubtedly saving lives since its introduction in 2018.
The circuit is still currently 'subject to FIA homologation and final design specification', so subtle changes will likely be made to the circuit before drivers hit the track.