Gasly predicts plenty of crashes at new Madrid street circuit
F1 driver Pierre Gasly expects numerous red flags and crashes at the upcoming race weekend on the new Madrid street circuit. He compared the track to Monaco, where even a small mistake can be costly.
Alpine driver Pierre Gasly has voiced a skeptical view of the upcoming Spanish Grand Prix weekend, which will be held for the first time on the new Madrid street circuit. The driver said he would be willing to bet money that the race will see numerous red-flag stoppages.
Gasly based his prediction on recent Formula 3 testing at the track, during which red flags were shown 19 times over two days. Of those, 11 were related to cars crashing into the walls.
Impressions from the simulator
The driver said that driving the track in the simulator was enjoyable and exciting, giving him a good feel for the wall positions in almost every corner. However, he expects the real race weekend to be significantly more challenging, particularly due to the track's characteristics, noting that the circuit could undergo considerable evolution as the weekend progresses.
A demanding layout
According to Gasly, the circuit features several awkward braking zones that are not fully straight, along with many twisting, blind corners featuring various cambers and elevation changes. He compared the new track to the legendary Monaco circuit, stressing that even a small mistake there results in an immediate, heavy penalty, adding that getting into a crash would be very easy.
