Charles Leclerc: Madrid's qualifying session set to be "among the toughest" in F1 2026

Charles Leclerc believes that qualifying for this weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix will be “one of the most demanding” of the 2026 Formula 1 season as competitors adjust to the new Madrid circuit.

The Madring has taken over from Barcelona as the venue for the Spanish Grand Prix, featuring a high-commitment street course with 22 turns, including the 13.5-degree banked La Monumental curve.

Numerous drivers have shared positive feedback about the track following Friday's practice, but the paddock is keenly anticipating qualifying, with George Russell describing it as a “very high-risk circuit.”

Leclerc commented, “The track is incredibly thrilling. It's very exciting, quite challenging, and it’s a street circuit as well.

“These are the kinds of tracks I typically enjoy, and this one is no exception. It was truly enjoyable to drive on this new layout.

“There’s still a significant amount of work to be done, and I anticipate it will be one of the most challenging qualifying sessions of the year because of the commitment required on this track.”

Consequently, what unfolds on Saturday is expected to carry more weight than at many other venues due to Madrid's tight configuration and its combination of brake-and-turn corners.

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

“Qualifying is definitely going to be the pivotal moment of the weekend,” Leclerc added. “Because especially in FP2, I attempted to overtake, but even with the significant pace difference, it was extremely challenging or even impossible to execute an overtake.

“So much of the performance this weekend will hinge on qualifying.”

It remains uncertain how Leclerc will perform, having finished third and second in FP1 and FP2 respectively, trailing Mercedes leaders Russell and Kimi Antonelli by 0.459s and 0.113s.

“The feeling was quite good, but it’s evident that Mercedes appears to be strong,” remarked the Ferrari driver.

“However, we aren’t overly focused on what P1 indicates today [Friday], as we’re not aware of what the others are doing with their run plans.

“It was all about maximizing laps on the new track to ensure we gather as much data as possible and are comfortable with the layout going into qualifying tomorrow.

“But I believe we did well today, and we’ll see how qualifying goes tomorrow.”

Photos from F1 Spanish GP - Saturday