Formula 1 has a brand-new track to look forward to this weekend and the expectation is there will be carnage and the drivers will be seriously tested at the Madring. The Spanish Grand Prix has moved from its traditional circuit in Barcelona to a high-speed street track in Madrid and has been described as "Jeddah on steroids" by Formula 3 drivers who tested there last month - the Jeddah track itself is one of the most challenging circuits in F1. So why is the Madring so difficult and how will it impact the racing we see this weekend, live on Sky Sports F1?
There are 22 official corners on the 3.365-mile Madring circuit, although unusually the track layout has Turns 5A and 20A - so maybe there are 24. Whatever the number, after the start/finish straight the driver will almost always be turning the steering wheel at some point as there are few straights. The left-right chicane of Turns 1 and 2 is one of just a few overtaking spots thanks to its heavy braking zone before a long blast through Turns 3 and 4 towards arguably the most awkward chicane in F1 since the old 'Singapore Sling' chicane which was used at the Singapore Grand Prix between 2008 and 2012.
Just how much speed and how much kerb the drivers can use at Turn 5 will be a critical point of the circuit. If cars go side by side approaching Turn 5, hold your breath, because you cannot fit two cars through there alongside each other. However, the long flat-out zone before the chicane means drivers will be keen to make an overtake here...
After that, the track goes up and down into a really tricky uphill braking zone of Turn 7 where we may see drivers glancing the barriers on the outside. The track then veers left, right and left, which may be flat out come qualifying when the track is clean after plenty of rubber has gone down from the practice sessions. Then comes, what could become iconic, Turn 12, known as La Monumental.
A huge banked corner that turns 180 degrees at 24 per cent gradient (13.5 degrees) where the drivers will try to stay hard on the throttle as much as possible while experiencing massive G-forces. After a left-hand flick at Turn 13, the next few corners should be flat out until you arrive at a 90-degree right hander of Turn 17 before the drivers dance through Turns 18 and 19 at high speed, then hit the brakes into a sharp left hander at Turn 20. The last corner of Turn 22 is a 90-degree right hander where the inside barriers jut out, so the drivers will need to be careful not to cut the apex too much as they arrive on the main straight to complete a rollercoaster lap which should be around 90 seconds in qualifying.
Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, plus Williams' Carlos Sainz are the only drivers to have any experience of driving the circuit. Sainz is a Madring ambassador and gave input on the Turn 12 La Monumental banking so track designers could ensure it is safe, while still being unique. Leclerc said: "It's a very, very special corner.
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