F1® 25: 2026 SEASON EDITION MADRID CIRCUIT – TIPS AND TRICKS GUIDE

Get ready to hit the tarmac at the all-new Madrid Circuit (MADRING)!* Featuring a blend of high-speed purpose-built sections, tight street sectors, and the iconic banked turn known as Le Monumental, Madrid offers one of the most dynamic challenges on the 2026 calendar.

To help you conquer every apex and optimize your strategy with the 2026 cars, here is your definitive guide to mastering Madrid.

Energy Management & ERS Boost Strategy

With the 2026 cars equipped with larger, more powerful electric motors, managing your battery level around Madrid is critical. Using too much boost early in the lap can leave you defenseless in high-speed overtaking zones.

• Turn 3 Acceleration Zone: It can be tempting to deploy full ERS boost along the straight leading into Turn 4, but doing so will drain your battery prematurely. Instead, use a short 1-to-2 second burst out of Turn 3. Saving your energy here ensures you won't enter Turn 12 with a flat battery.
• The Prime Attacking Zone (Turn 12 Exit into Turn 13): The exit of Turn 12 is the most effective spot on the track for an offensive boost burst. Defending cars struggle to hold off an attack here, and the technical, twisty section from Turns 13 to 21 immediately gives you time to harvest and recharge your battery.

Mastering Turn 12 ("La Monumental")

As a hybrid street circuit, Madrid defaults to a high-downforce setup. However, the unique geometry of Turn 12 requires specific setup tweaks to maximize your lap time.

• Combat Floor-Scraping: Turn 12 features a steep, high-speed banked profile. At maximum downforce, the aerodynamic compression forces the car floor to scrape the track surface, severely robbing you of top-end speed.
• Suspension & Ride Height Compromise: To prevent grounding through Turn 12, slightly raise your ride height or stiffen your spring setup. Preventing floor contact here can grant you an extra 10–15 km/h through the fastest corner on the track. Note: This creates a small compromise in rear grip through slower corners, but the overall time gain is significant.
• The Ideal Line through Turn 12: Unlike progressive banking found on some tracks, Turn 12 features flat, constant banking. The fastest and most secure line, both for attacking and defending, is to stay low on the inside curb.

Racing Lines & Critical Corners

Madrid features several blind braking points and tight corners where a single mistake can cost you a front wing or end your race.

• Turns 5 & 6 (The Chicane): Essential for setting up a strong mid-lap rhythm. Focus on braking cleanly to straighten your path through the chicane as much as possible without unsettling the car over the kerbs. Avoid over-driving or braking too late into Turn 5.
• Turn 8 (Uphill & Blind Entry): One of the trickiest corners on the circuit due to its elevation change and narrow walls. Initiate your braking phase the exact moment the apex becomes visible. Track width is constrained here, so prioritizing a clean entry is more important than fighting for an extreme racing line.
• Turns 13–21 (Technical Sector): This sector requires practice across multiple racing lines. Certain corners that feel flat-out in clean air can become unstable under tire degradation or in dirty air.
  • Pro Tip: When exiting Turn 18, sacrifice the traditional wide exit by keeping your car positioned to the left side of the track. This sets up a much cleaner entry angle into Turn 19.
• Turns 16 & 17 (High-Crash Risk Area): Carrying high speed out of Turn 15 can easily catch you out. Prepare your braking early, position the car fully to the left before turning into Turn 17, and watch out for the narrow wall on exit.

Wet Weather Driveability

When rain hits the Madrid Circuit, you won't need to drastically change your setup philosophy, but your driving style must adapt.

• Setup Balance: Because the baseline dry setup already utilizes high downforce and elevated ride heights for Turn 12, your car is naturally well-equipped for wet conditions.
• Adapting Style: The high-speed technical section from Turns 13 to 21 becomes low-grip territory in wet conditions. Exercise patience on throttle application and shift your braking markers significantly earlier to avoid lockups.

Overtake Mode & Spots

Knowing when and where to make a move at Madrid makes the difference between climbing the grid and ending up in the barriers.

Overtake mode activates automatically when you are within one second of the car ahead, delivering an extra boost of power at high speeds.

Primary Overtake Zones:

• Turn 1: The heavy braking zone at the start of the lap.
• Turn 3-to-4 Straight: Effective if you are close enough out of Turn 3, just make sure you clear the car before the Turn 5 braking zone.
• Turn 12 Exit into Turn 13: The best opportunity on the circuit.

Due to the narrow track width, attempting a pass between Turns 5 and 11 carries an extremely high risk of collision. Focus on staying close through this section and prepare your exit out of Turn 12.

Practice & Acclimatization Strategy

Because Madrid relies heavily on precise braking points and spatial awareness near close walls, track familiarity is your biggest competitive edge.

• Recommended Preparation: Spend time in Time Trial or run dedicated practice sessions in Grand Prix mode before jumping straight into online races.
• Career Mode Advantage: Utilize the Track Acclimatization practice programs in Career Mode to master cornering gates and optimal lines.
• Custom Season Tip: If you want immediate access to track acclimatization programs for Madrid, set up a Custom Career Calendar with Madrid as Race 1 of your season!

EA SPORTS™ F1® 25 is available now across PlayStation®5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.

*MADRING circuit can only be driven with 2026 cars (not available in F1 25 base game). Requires F1 25: 2026 Season Edition or 2026 Season Pack (sold separately).