Spanish Grand Prix 2026: Madring Guide, Start Time & Prediction

The Spanish Grand Prix 2026, also called the Madrid Grand Prix, is Formula 1’s first race at the Madring, a new track built around the IFEMA exhibition centre in Madrid. It runs on Sunday, September 13, at 3 p.m. local time over 57 laps. Lando Norris starts from pole, and championship leader Kimi Antonelli starts next to him. Here’s what makes the track unusual, the start time in your country and what to watch for in the race.

স্প্যানিশ গ্রাঁ প্রি ২০২৬: সংক্ষেপে

১৩ সেপ্টেম্বর ২০২৬ মাদ্রিদের নতুন মাদরিং সার্কিটের প্রথম রেসে জেতেন কিমি আন্তোনেল্লি। দ্বিতীয় হন ম্যাক্স ভার্স্টাপেন, আর পোল থেকে শুরু করা ল্যান্ডো নরিস হন তৃতীয়। ৫৭ ল্যাপের রেসটি শুরু হয়েছিল বাংলাদেশ সময় সন্ধ্যা ৭টায়। সূত্র: Formula 1 ও AP via Local 10। যাচাই: ২৫ অক্টোবর ২০২৬।

Spanish Grand Prix 2026 Start Time and How to Watch

The Spanish Grand Prix 2026 starts at 15:00 local time (14:00 in the UK), according to Sky Sports. For fans in Bangladesh and India, that’s a convenient evening start.

Region	Race Start	Broadcaster
Spain (CEST)	3:00 p.m.	Local rights holder
UK (BST)	2:00 p.m.	Sky Sports F1; Channel 4 highlights
USA (ET)	9:00 a.m.	Apple TV
India (IST)	6:30 p.m.	Check official F1 TV partners
Bangladesh (UTC+6)	7:00 p.m.	F1 TV Pro / local partners

The forecast is dry and sunny, with temperatures around 30°C and highs near 33°C. Heat like that will be hard on the tyres. For more race-weekend guides, visit our motorsport and sports blog.

7 Things to Know About the Madring Circuit

The Madring, home of the Spanish Grand Prix 2026, is a mix of purpose-built track and public roads around the IFEMA complex on Madrid’s northeastern edge. Since no team has raced here before, nobody has previous race data to work from.

1. It’s 5.414 km Long

According to Formula1.com, a lap measures 5.414 km, which makes the Madring one of the longer tracks on the calendar.

2. It Has 22 Corners

ESPN counts 22 corners. Tight street sections are followed by fast, flowing parts, so teams have to choose between downforce for the corners and straight-line speed.

3. La Monumental Is Steeply Banked

Turn 12, known as La Monumental, is about 550 metres long, and ESPN reports a 24% banking gradient. It’s one of the steepest banked corners in modern F1 and puts the highest vertical load of the lap through the cars.

4. The Race Covers About 308 km

57 laps add up to roughly 308 km, just over the standard F1 race distance.

5. Top Speed Reaches About 340 kph

Despite the street sections, ESPN reports top speeds of around 340 kph on the longest straights.

6. It’s One of the Most Physically Demanding Tracks

Formula1.com ranks the Madring among the five most demanding tracks of the season, with cornering forces similar to Barcelona and Silverstone.

7. Madrid Has Hosted F1 Before

Before the Madring, Madrid’s F1 history came from the Circuito del Jarama, just north of the city, which held nine World Championship races between 1968 and 1981.

Spanish Grand Prix 2026 Qualifying: Norris on Pole

Lando Norris took his third pole of the 2026 season, just ahead of championship leader Kimi Antonelli, as The Race reports. That puts a McLaren and a Mercedes side by side on the front row for the long run to Turn 1.

LANDO NORRIS IS ON POLE IN MADRID! 👏🥇

WHAT A LAP! 😱#F1 #SpanishGP pic.twitter.com/pmai9Fir2p

— Formula 1 (@F1) September 12, 2026

Home favourite Carlos Sainz had a bad Saturday. A three-place grid penalty pushes him further back on the grid for his home race, but the Madrid crowd could still lift him. Our look at how home advantage works in football explains how much fans can affect performance.

Storyline	Driver / Team	Why It Matters
Pole position	Lando Norris (McLaren)	His third pole of 2026
Front row	Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)	Leads the championship by 66 points
Title chaser	George Russell (Mercedes)	Needs a big result to close the gap
Grid penalty	Carlos Sainz	Three-place drop at his home race

Championship Picture Before Madrid

Antonelli arrives at the Spanish Grand Prix 2026 after winning the Italian Grand Prix at Monza and leads Mercedes teammate George Russell by 66 points. Lewis Hamilton is third, 10 points behind Russell, and Norris is fourth after finishing fourth at Monza.

At this stage of the season, a lead of 66 points is big but not safe. If Norris converts pole into a win while Antonelli has a poor day, the title fight becomes much closer.

What to Watch in the Race

• The start: Norris and Antonelli side by side heading into Turn 1.
• Tyre wear: 30°C-plus heat on a surface nobody knows could force extra pit stops.
• Safety cars: Street sections leave little room for error. The support races were chaotic, with Ritomo Miyata winning the F2 Sprint and Pedro Clerot the F3 Feature Race.
• Sainz’s fightback: How far can the Spaniard climb from his penalised grid spot in front of his home crowd?

Spanish Grand Prix 2026 Prediction

With no past races at this track, Spanish Grand Prix 2026 predictions are harder than usual. ESPN notes that the layout favours Mercedes on the straights and Ferrari in the corners. Norris has track position, while Antonelli has the momentum from Monza.

Our pick: Norris to win if he leads into Turn 1, with Antonelli close behind to protect his championship lead. A safety car could shake up the finishing order.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What time is the Spanish Grand Prix 2026 in Bangladesh?

The race starts at 7:00 p.m. Bangladesh time on Sunday, September 13, 2026.

2. How many laps is the Spanish Grand Prix at the Madring?

The race is 57 laps of the 5.414 km Madring, about 308 km in total.

3. Who is on pole for the Spanish Grand Prix 2026?

Lando Norris of McLaren is on pole, with Kimi Antonelli of Mercedes second.

4. What is La Monumental?

La Monumental is the Madring’s banked Turn 12. It’s about 550 metres long and one of the steepest banked corners in modern Formula 1.

Final Word

The Spanish Grand Prix 2026 brings a new track, a banked corner and a title fight with a lot at stake. Whether Norris wins from pole or Antonelli extends his lead, the first race at the Madring will matter for the rest of the season.

We’ll add the full race result here after the chequered flag. For more coverage, visit the Velki VIP homepage.