​For the first time, a Formula 1 car is completing laps at the Madring circuit in the Spanish capital as Ferrari begins its filming day on the newest track added to the calendar for the 2026 season. GPblog confirmed on Tuesday that Ferrari would be the first team to run laps at the Madring circuit, which has been incorporated into the Formula 1 calendar for this year. The Spanish Grand Prix is scheduled to take place from September 11 to 13, marking the final European race weekend of the season. Now, Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton can test the circuit in its full form. Leclerc, who clinched victory at the British Grand Prix last Sunday, was the first to get on the track during the filming day.
During a filming day, teams are allowed to complete up to 200 kilometers on track. This arrangement grants Ferrari valuable extra knowledge ahead of the first race weekend on the Madring in September, while their rivals are likely to arrive at the circuit with little or no prior experience, unless they also hold similar events in the Spanish capital. After Max Verstappen’s crash caused by a rear-wing issue at the British Grand Prix, GPblog has learned that the FIA is in discussions with Red Bull Racing and Ferrari about the teams’ so-called “Macarena” rear wings for safety reasons. The Dutch driver was on course to finish on the podium behind Leclerc and Hamilton when his race abruptly ended in the gravel at Stowe, a setback that underscored the dangers of the issue.
Verstappen later commented that the situation was extremely dangerous, noting that he had been fortunate in Austria and again at Silverstone, but stressing that such moments are deeply frustrating. He described how the risk of injury is real, especially when a car’s rear wing fails during a high-speed run. The FIA has since put the Macarena rear-wing design under close scrutiny, with two teams—Ferrari and Red Bull Racing—utilizing this wing configuration. The nicknamed “Macarena” wing was a term popularized by Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur during pre-season testing. The motorsport federation is actively engaging with bothFerrari and Red Bull Racing to ensure that the rear wings used on their cars meet the necessary safety standards and regulatory requirements.
As the safety conversations continue, attention remains on Madring’s debut within the Formula 1 calendar, a track that promises to add a fresh dynamic to the championship as teams prepare for the season’s closing stages. With Leclerc and Hamilton taking to the Madring circuit in its full form and Ferrari continuing its on-track filming, the coming weeks will be crucial for teams to gather data, refine setup work, and adapt to the unique demands of the new venue ahead of the September race weekend in Madrid.