The 2026 F3 drivers have given the new Madring an overwhelmingly positive first verdict after completing two days of in-season testing at the circuit ahead of its competitive debut.
Across the test, the 5.4km Madrid venue provided a demanding combination of high-speed commitment, close barriers, elevation changes and technical sections. With nobody holding previous racing experience at the circuit, drivers spent the two days learning its limits while teams accumulated their first meaningful real-world data.
Freddie Slater and Ugo Ugochukwu shared the headline honours. Slater topped both afternoon sessions, including Day 1 of testing, while Ugochukwu set the outright benchmark during the Qualifying-focused second morning with a 1:49.034. Slater then led the final afternoon as teams switched their attention towards longer runs.
However, beyond the timesheets, drivers repeatedly highlighted the same qualities: character, difficulty and the need to commit without crossing the narrow line between finding time and finding the barriers.
2026 F3 championship leader Slater immediately ranks Madring among his favourites
Slater left Madrid particularly impressed with the newest addition to the F3 calendar.
The TRIDENT driver adapted quickly, setting the fastest time on the opening day before returning to the top during the final afternoon. His enthusiasm extended well beyond his competitive pace, with the championship leader praising the circuit’s bumps, high-speed sections and old-school characteristics.
“Honestly, what an incredible track. It’s probably my favourite on the calendar. It’s old school, it’s got character, it’s a really enjoyable track to drive, lots of little bumps you have to get right, very committed in high-speed corners, and one of the most enjoyable of the season. So I’m really enjoying it.”
That combination of speed and limited margin for error emerged as one of the defining themes across the two days. Rather than offering drivers a smooth, forgiving modern layout, the Madring demands accuracy across several very different sections of the lap.
Colnaghi and Clerot highlight street-circuit challenge
MP Motorsport’s Mattia Colnaghi also recognised elements more commonly associated with street circuits. Although the circuit combines permanent and public-road sections, the nearby walls and constantly changing nature of the lap create a challenge that Colnaghi compared with Melbourne.
“Quite an interesting track, a bit of a street circuit, it can be compared to Melbourne but overall it’s quite interesting and there something different in each of the sectors. I think it’s going to be an interesting weekend.”
Meanwhile, Rodin Motorsport’s Pedro Clerot reached a similar conclusion after using the test to gradually explore how close he could move towards the circuit’s limits. Grip remained relatively low as drivers began running on the new surface, adding another variable while the field learned where it could attack.
“Fun track to drive, but very tricky. At the moment it’s still very low grip, but I’m having fun so far. Just getting to know the walls a little bit better, getting to the limit a bit more, but overall, quite fun.”
That progression proved particularly important during testing. Drivers could afford to build towards the limit over repeated runs, but they will have far less room for caution when the championship returns for the season finale.
2026 F3 title challenger Ugochukwu relishes a lap that rewards precision around Madring
Ugochukwu emerged from the two days with the fastest lap of the entire test.
The Campos Racing driver produced his 1:49.034 during Tuesday morning’s Qualifying simulations, beating Hiyu Yamakoshi by 0.193s as lap times dropped significantly from the opening day. Only 0.752s ultimately separated the top 10 during the session, offering an early indication of how closely fought Qualifying could become when F3 returns.
For Ugochukwu, the satisfaction came from successfully linking every section together on a circuit that offers little tolerance for mistakes.
“It’s an unbelievable circuit to be honest. We just finished Day 2 morning which was focused on all the qualifying runs and it’s a very nice feeling when you get it right and the lap hooked up. I’m definitely going to enjoy it, and I’m sure it’s going to be a great weekend.”
His experience underlined another challenge the drivers will face. With so many corners and different demands packed into one lap, extracting the maximum will require more than bravery in the quickest sections. A mistake early in the lap could compromise everything that follows.
Taponen expects one of the season’s toughest physical tests
While several drivers focused on the precision required, Tuukka Taponen also identified the physical demands of the Madring. The MP Motorsport driver completed substantial running across the test, including 29 laps during the fast second morning session before another 22 in the afternoon.
That mileage gave him an opportunity to assess how the circuit feels beyond a single Qualifying lap, and he expects the combination of sustained cornering forces and long runs to make it one of his toughest challenges.
“It’s super difficult, also quite physical. On the long runs, it’s not easy. I’d say it’s one of the most difficult tracks I’ve ever driven, but still quite fun and flowing when you get into a rhythm.”
Finding that rhythm could prove crucial during the races. While the barriers punish errors, the flowing sections reward drivers who can maintain confidence and momentum across consecutive corners.
Le and Rivera emphasise the importance of commitment
ART Grand Prix’s Kanato Le also enjoyed the sensation of driving close to the circuit’s boundaries. The Japanese driver sees commitment as an essential part of extracting lap time, particularly when the field switches into full Qualifying mode during the race weekend.
“I think it’s quite a cool track, super close to the walls, and you have to be quite on the edge, but it’s really fun to drive, and I think the race weekend it will be pretty close.”
Meanwhile, Campos Racing’s Ernesto Rivera identified La Monumental as another area where the Madring separates itself from more conventional circuits. Turn 12 takes drivers through a heavily banked section, with the compression creating a distinctive physical sensation inside the car. Rivera finished fourth during the fastest session of the test before placing fifth in the final afternoon, giving Campos three cars inside the top five.
“It’s very tricky. I mean, it’s very close to the walls, especially on the exits. La Monumental is super fun as well, you can feel the compression through the corner.”
The combination of walls on corner exits and the compression through La Monumental should make precision particularly important once drivers begin fighting for every fraction of a second.
Yamakoshi sees similarities with Macau
Hiyu Yamakoshi went a step further when assessing the level of difficulty, drawing a comparison with Macau. The Van Amersfoort Racing driver came closest to Ugochukwu during the decisive Tuesday morning session with a 1:49.227. However, he also demonstrated the consequences of pushing the circuit to its limits when he later hit the barriers at Turn 11.
His experience reinforced his belief that producing one clean, complete lap will become the key challenge in Qualifying.
“It’s quite similar to Macau, but this track is more tricky. I think it’s really difficult to put everything together, but as always, the most important thing will be qualifying and keeping it clean.”
That balance between speed and restraint could become particularly significant during the season finale. Drivers will need to exploit every available centimetre without allowing the walls to bring a decisive Qualifying run to an early end.
Giusti sees opportunities for different approaches
Alessandro Giusti also highlighted the learning process created by a completely new venue. Unlike established circuits where teams arrive with years of data and drivers already understand the conventional racing lines, the Madring gave the entire F3 field a largely blank canvas.
That encouraged drivers to experiment with different approaches and explore multiple ways of positioning the car through individual corners.
“It’s been good, it’s fun. It’s a track that no one knows, so it’s quite good to get up to speed, and there are a lot of different lines, different ways to arrive into the corners, so it’s really cool.”
As the surface develops and teams analyse the information collected across both days, those approaches will likely evolve before competitive running begins.
Madring promises demanding end to the 2026 F3 season
The first two days of F3 running offered only an initial indication of what the Madring could produce once racing begins.
Testing already brought several Red Flags as drivers explored the limits, while the timing remained tight once teams moved onto Qualifying simulations. Ugochukwu ultimately left Madrid with the outright benchmark, while Slater topped both afternoon sessions and the championship rivals shared the honours across the two days.
F3 will first head to Monza from 4–6 September for the penultimate round before returning to the Madring one week later for the 2026 season finale.
By then, drivers and teams will have analysed every kilometre completed during the test. Yet the early verdict from the cockpit already appears consistent: the Madring rewards commitment, punishes imprecision and possesses enough character to make its first competitive F3 weekend one of the season’s biggest tests.
