Formula One rolls into round 14 of the 2026 season with a genuine wildcard: the Madring, a brand-new circuit in Madrid that no driver on the grid has ever raced. With zero historical data to lean on, teams are heading into the weekend essentially blind, and that unpredictability alone makes it one to watch. 

Kimi Antonelli carries a solid points cushion into the race after his Monza win, sitting 66 points clear of Mercedes teammate George Russell, with Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton another 10 points behind in third.

A brand-new, untested track means that gap could shrink or grow in ways nobody can predict yet. 

Besides the championship storyline, two homegrown talents will also have extra reason to perform well in Madrid: Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso and Williams' Carlos Sainz, both racing in front of their own fans.  

Action runs Friday, September 11 through Sunday, September 13, with Formula 2 and Formula 3 also taking place. F3 will also decide its season champion here. Here's the full lineup of sessions, according to the schedule put out by Formula One on its website. 

Friday, September 11 

FIA Formula 3 

03:55 ET – Practice

12:25 ET – Qualifying- Group A

12:55 ET – Qualifying- Group B

FIA Formula 2 

05:05 ET – Practice

09:00 ET – Qualifying

Formula 1 

07:30 ET – Practice 1

11:00 ET – Practice 2

Saturday, September 12 

FIA Formula 3 

05:05 ET – Sprint Race

12:00 ET – Feature Race

FIA Formula 2 

08:15 ET – Sprint Race 

Formula 1 

06:30 ET – Practice 3

10:00 ET – Qualifying

Sunday, September 13 

FIA Formula 3 

03:45 ET – Feature Race (title decider) 

FIA Formula 2 

05:25 ET – Feature Race 

Formula 1 

09:00 ET – Race 

How to watch the  Spanish Grand Prix? 

You can catch the action across all three series and all three days on F1TV Pro. It runs on most streaming boxes and smart TVs, including Apple TV, Chromecast, Android TV, Google TV, Fire TV, and Roku.

For fans in the UK and other parts of the world, broadcasters like Sky Sports will also cover the Grand Prix over the three days. 

Besides this, the race weekend will also be available on Apple TV. 

Where is the Spanish Grand Prix taking place? 

The Madring makes its F1 debut this weekend, Formula One's first trip back to Madrid in roughly four decades. Built near downtown with 22 turns spanning both public roads and private land, it's drawn comparisons to Miami's street circuit.

Drivers will have plenty to think about, including the calendar's longest banked turn and a run of narrow, wall-lined sections that leave little room for error over the race's 57 laps. 

What can fans expect in terms of the weather? 

Expect clear skies and heat all weekend; temperatures should stay above 86°F (30°C) on each of the three days, with little to no rain in the forecast. 

Teams get a dry, stable track as they figure out this new circuit for the first time. 

Written by

Chionia Libania Colaco