AUGUST 27, 2025

Madrid F1 track designer wanted more extreme banking

Zandvoort's famous steep corners helped inspire Madrid's new Formula 1 circuit - with its designer admitting he wanted to go even further.

As F1 returns this weekend for the Dutch GP, the seaside venue is preparing for its second-last race before exiting the calendar after 2026.

Zandvoort's return in 2021 was marked by a major revamp led by Jarno Zaffelli and his firm Dromo, including the introduction of heavily banked turns that became an instant trademark.

For us as a company, Zandvoort was truly the highlight, Zaffelli told De Telegraaf. At many circuits you have to make compromises and adapt your initial ideas. That wasn't the case at Zandvoort - we mainly had to consider environmental requirements.

Asked about his new Madring project for Spain's capital from 2026, Zaffelli admitted: "Yes, we wanted to go even more extreme in Madrid, but unfortunately that turned out to be impossible.

But it's clear that Zandvoort has been an eye-opener. I think it will eventually be possible to design something steeper than what we see in Zandvoort, but that will probably take a few years.

(GMM)