It’s hard to believe that it’s been nearly five decades since Formula 1 raced in Spain’s capital, Madrid. The last race there was held at the Circuito del Jarama on June 21, 1981. Even back then, racing in Madrid wasn’t really racing in Madrid. Those who wanted to attend the Grand Prix had to trek some 20 miles north of Madrid’s city center, so the race wasn’t exactly in Madrid.
That’s all changing this year when Madrid hosts the Spanish Grand Prix from September 11-13. Instead of racing at the Circuito del Jarama, F1’s return to Madrid will see the race at the brand new IFEMA Madrid Circuit, which is simply known as Madring. The trek there from the city center has been cut in half with the location change. Travelers and motorsport enthusiasts will need to go only 10 miles north of Madrid’s city center. The new circuit is located in the Barajas District in northeast Madrid. It’s also incredibly close to Madrid’s international airport, Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport.
The shift to Madrid’s brand new circuit, which is part-street course, aligns with F1 steadily moving its calendar toward circuits inside cities. There are tons of examples, including Miami, Las Vegas, and Jeddah in Saudi Arabia. That Madrid will debut the track at next month’s F1 event means the Spanish Grand Prix is one of the hottest tickets this season, which is resulting in luxury travelers — not just motorsport enthusiasts — flocking to the area.
What makes Madrid so attractive to visit is its vast network of public transportation, including the high-speed AVE trains that make day trips to Toledo, Segovia, and Córdoba so easy. From the Palacio Real to Plaza Mayor, which has welcomed tourists for more than four centuries, it’s all at your disposal on this “motor” trip. And if you’re seeking luxury at its finest, Diverxo, Madrid’s only three-Michelin-starred restaurant.
If it’s your first time visiting Madrid, Salamanca, Justicia, and Barrio de las Letras offers the perfect balance of luxury, walkability, dining, and easy access to Madrid’s main attractions.
The luxury pilgrimage
ASMALLWORLD is a 20-year-old members’ only community for luxury travelers. Think exclusive concierge helping you navigate and find the best and most luxurious things traveling has to offer. Zain Richardson, CEO of ASMALLWORLD, sees the Spanish Grand Prix as a “city trip” and not just a “motor trip.”
A pilgrimage, if you will.
“For luxury travelers, a Grand Prix weekend is no longer a motorsport pilgrimage but something that folds into a proper city break — hotels, dining, and culture within reach of the paddock,” Richardson says. “I believe Madrid’s return will be judged less on lap times than on how naturally the race weekend sits inside a wider Madrid itinerary.”
Richardson’s right.
F1 weekends is becoming equal parts sport and luxury. Take the upcoming Las Vegas Grand Prix, for example, where visitors have ample opportunities to experience a slew of luxury offerings. Specifically, The Venetian will roll out its popular, invite-only Velocity Club, offering VIP trackside seating and opulent food and drink options.
In Madrid, the race returning closer to the city center means travelers can revel in all that Madrid has to offer without having to make a massive trek.
“Madrid returning to the Formula 1 calendar after 45 years is notable in and of itself. What’s more significant is where it’s returning to. The old circuit at Jarama sat roughly 30 kilometers north of the city, where as Madring sits on a metro line into the center and three stops from Barajas Terminal 4,” Richardson added. “Also, this shift mirrors what we’re seeing across the calendar more broadly, with Miami, Las Vegas, and Jeddah all building circuits inside a city’s existing transport and hospitality network rather than isolating them.”
