Will the Madrid Circuit Add More Straights Next Year?

Toto Wolff thinks the Madrid circuit will change its layout next year to add more straights. The track is not permanent, and the design did not account for how hard the new generation of cars makes overtaking, even though a long banked corner looks spectacular for the drivers and for camera positions.

He loves old circuits as a traditionalist because they represent history. Layouts with vast areas, available because places were less developed, still provide great racing: overtaking, and cars able to run side by side. Criticism of the new Spanish track was that there was not a lot of overtaking. Madrid as a city is spectacular, the track built there is spectacular, and the job done over the few years since the contract is outstanding. On the weekend he spoke with the chief executive of the track, who mentioned a few corners that can be adapted or should be adapted. They are open-minded about adapting the corners.

He does not see a tension between creating a destination and designing a racing track. All stakeholders want a great Grand Prix, with attractive racing and good spots for the public. John Collison brought up Monaco, which was not designed as a racing track and is not going anywhere, because Monaco needs Formula 1 and Formula 1 needs Monaco.