Formula 1 are adding a new race for the 2026 season and it looks set to have handed a major title boost to Max Verstappen.
It was recently announced that the Madrid Grand Prix will be added to the calendar for next season, replacing the Emilia Romagna (Imola) GP.
Following the race in Barcelona, Madrid will be the second Spanish race next season.
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And Verstappen looks well-suited to the new circuit.
The track in Madrid will use both public roads and private land, making it a hybrid between a street circuit and a permanent race track.
This is the same as the Miami Grand Prix which was added to the calendar in 2022. And it will be encouraging news for the Dutch four-time world champion, who won the first two races in Miami.
After a convincing victory in 2022, it was his performance in 2023 which drew more attention.
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Verstappen recovered from ninth on the grid to claim victory by more than five seconds from his then Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez.
What happened in the two previous years in Miami?
In 2024, Verstappen's good fortunes continued as he claimed a sprint race victory, but he was unable to win a third consecutive Miami GP.
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Despite claiming pole position, he was edged out by the McLaren of Lando Norris, who won his first F1 race.
McLaren were again the strongest team in Miami this year.
They claimed a one-two in the sprint race, as Verstappen finished a lowly 17th after he received a 10-second time penalty for an unsafe release.
But the Dutchman recovered from the disappointment of the sprint race to claim pole position.
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After an intense battle with both McLaren drivers at the start of the race, Verstappen was overtaken, as Piastri went on to claim victory.
Mercedes' George Russell capitalised on some good fortune with the timing of a virtual safety car to pass Verstappen and claim the final podium spot.
Can Verstappen win a fifth world title this year?
Verstappen has won the last four world championships with Red Bull, but this has been his hardest season for years.
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He has frequently found himself frustrated with the car and its lack of pace compared to the McLaren.
Piastri leads the championship with 186 points, giving him a 47-point buffer to Verstappen.
Norris looks set to be the closest challenger for the world title with 176 points.
Despite being contracted until 2028, the instability at Red Bull and disappointing results have prompted speculation around his future.
And for Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff, who wanted Verstappen for this season, he will surely try again to sign the Dutchman.
Topics: Formula 1, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Lando Norris, Oscar Piastri, McLaren, Mercedes, Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton
James Taylor