Samarth Kanal

There was no real chaos to speak of at the Spanish Grand Prix - which instead gave way to pre-weekend fears that the first Formula 1 race on the Madring might be a tepid one. But that's not to say the weekend was a dud: the track proved a hit with drivers, and away from it there were significant revelations - about this year's title fight, but also involving the bid to keep one of F1's star drivers in the championship.

The 2026 Spanish Grand Prix  was a procession - but what do Formula 1 drivers think is the main problem with the Madring, and what are their proposed solutions? The Madring is part new, permanent circuit, and part existing roads that flow in and out of the IFEMA conference centre in the north-east of Madrid. It therefore benefitted from a partial blank slate.

After retiring from the 2026 Spanish Grand Prix with a brake failure, Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton conceded that there will be "no stopping" Mercedes and its Formula 1 championship leader Kimi Antonelli this season. Seven-time F1 champion Hamilton has been Antonelli's closest pursuer in the standings at times this season, and was within 32 points of him after the British GP two months ago.