Ferrari held a filming day event on Thursday at the Madring circuit in Spain, which is nearing completion. Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc took the wheel during the session, covering a total of 200 kilometers; thus, Ferrari became the first team to drive a Formula 1 car at the Madring.
200 km with demonstration tires
The Ferrari SF-26, the car for the 2026 season, was used at the event. The team opted for special Pirelli demonstration tires instead of standard racing tires to avoid gaining any performance advantage over other drivers. The fact that a Formula 1 car entered the track at high speed for the first time was considered a significant milestone in the facility's history. Both Ferrari and track management announced that the day was completed without any incidents.
Preparations continue for the grand opening in September.
Madring will host the Spanish Grand Prix from September 11-13, 2026. Construction work on the grandstands and spectator areas is still underway to be ready by that date. This race will also mark F1's second visit to Spain during the 2026 season; the first was the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix, which Hamilton won in a Ferrari uniform, marking his first victory in the red and white colors.