The Madrid GP staged the dullest race of the year, confirmed by fewer overtakes than Monaco
One key statistic fueling doubts about the new Madrid circuit is the number of overtakes. The comparison is particularly striking: the Spanish track saw just 4 overtakes (excluding the start). Not only that, but the new circuit underperformed compared to Monaco, where 10 overtakes happened in 2026 — 6 more than in Madrid.
and on Google News to improve the quality of the articles
This number is surprising, especially given Monaco’s reputation as one of the toughest tracks to overtake on the calendar. Yet Madrid managed to do even worse.
Madrid worse than Monaco: a concerning statistic
Before Madrid, the season average was 61 overtakes per race. The Madring stopped at 4. That represents roughly a 94% drop from the pre-Madrid average. This huge difference highlights the difficulties drivers faced trying to gain positions on track. Even more telling is the Monaco comparison: there were 10 overtakes there, more than double Madrid’s total. This immediately illustrates the new track’s challenges.
The race result confirmed some concerns seen during the weekend. The Madring features a very unique layout, with several technical sections where following closely is tricky.
Not just a narrow track
The result was a race where the starting position mattered tremendously. Lando Norris, who began from pole, built a strong gap before a Virtual Safety Car period completely changed strategic dynamics. After his pit stop, the McLaren driver struggled significantly with overtaking.
The race finish further highlighted the issue: Norris climbed back to the podium but could not turn his pace into a genuine charge against Antonelli and Verstappen.
A warning sign for the future
The first Madrid GP leaves an important question mark due to the number of overtakes. The new track can create spectacle through qualifying, strategy, and unpredictability, but just four overtakes is a hard figure to ignore. The Monaco comparison makes it even clearer. Monaco relies on its history, the unique track, and decisive qualifying, but Madrid was expected to offer a more modern layout favorable to on-track action.
Instead, the story on overtaking is very different: the Madring managed to perform worse than Monaco. After its debut, discussions will inevitably arise about whether the circuit needs modifications to improve overtaking opportunities, or if Formula 1 must accept a track where starting position counts more than race attacks.
Follow us on social media: Telegram – Instagram – Facebook – Twitter