Carlos Sainz has urged his Formula 1 peers to exercise strict discipline at the inaugural Spanish Grand Prix amid fears the Madrid track will destroy cars.
A chaotic junior test at the 22-turn Madring layout yielded 19 red flags and multiple damaged chassis.
As highlighted by The Race, Williams team principal James Vowles noted the brutal nature of the new venue: “In the Formula 3 test there were 19 red flags and three broken chassis, broken suspensions…OK, they’re Formula 3 drivers, but it’s a track that kills cars,”
Protecting Crucial Cost Cap Budgets
The unforgiving walls leave teams terrified of severe crash damage under strict expenditure limits. The immense repair bills have amplified concerns about exceeding development budgets.
Sainz holds an official advisory role and confronts a delicate balancing act for his home event.
In an exclusive interview with formula1.com, the 32-year-old said: “I’ve been lucky enough to have a home race pretty much all through my career thanks to the Grand Prix in Barcelona,”
The new layout features a blind exit at La Monumental, a heavily banked corner that eclipses the Zandvoort banking. The punishing kerbs offer minimal margin for error.
Despite widespread paddock anxiety, Sainz expects the premier class to display maturity. He has urged the grid to show constructive patience and provide considered feedback to race control after the weekend concludes.
Track action begins on Friday morning ahead of a high-stakes qualifying session in the Spanish capital.
