The new Madring promises to give the Formula 1 drivers a tough first test right away. Tire supplier Pirelli expects the circuit in Madrid to be one of the toughest tracks on the calendar, with the spectacular, 550-meter-long and up to 24 percent steep banked Monumental corner causing exceptional tire stress.
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The different ways drivers can attack the long, banked corner on the Madring may affect the amount of grip they need for the rest of the lap, Pirelli thinks.
The Italians bring the C2 as the hard tire to Madrid, alongside the C3 as medium and C4 as soft compound. The asphalt is very smooth and therefore offers relatively little grip. To remove dust and oily residues from the new road surface, the circuit has been treated with high-pressure water jets. Something that is also done in Singapore before the F1 Grand Prix.
Preparation
Pirelli started preparing for the new race in Spain three years ago. Based on the initial information about the design, simulations were carried out to determine the expected racing lines and tire loads. After the circuit was built, Pirelli engineers visited the track to measure the roughness of the asphalt and further refine the simulations.
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A major question mark is tire wear. Because no testing was done on the Madring before the race weekend, teams will only get a reliable picture of tire behavior during the first free practice. If the soft compounds degrade heavily, they may decide to save extra sets of hard tires for the race.
Mario Andretti
Formula 1 returns to the Madrid region with the Madring after more than forty years. Between 1968 and 1981, the Spanish Grand Prix was held nine times at the Jarama circuit, about thirty kilometers from the Spanish capital. Mario Andretti is the most successful driver there with two wins, while Lotus managed to win four times as a constructor.
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Read everything about the Spanish GP here
