Williams team principal James Vowles has expressed optimism about Madrid’s potential as a standout Formula 1 destination, even after a challenging debut for the Spanish Grand Prix at the new Madring circuit.
Reflecting on the inaugural event in the latest episode of The Vowles Verdict, Vowles praised the organizers for a smooth launch, overcoming the usual logistical hurdles that plague first-time venues. “It’s the first year of the grand prix, which usually means a bit of chaos, but that wasn’t the case in Madrid,” he said. “The circuit is just half an hour from the city center—or only ten minutes by metro—and offers a vast amount of space. That’s great for accommodating fans, although it does mean a lot of walking between different areas and the garages!”
Despite the positive organization, Vowles noted criticism over the lack of overtaking opportunities, with many suggesting that changes will be needed in 2027 to improve the racing spectacle. “The track itself is highly technical and the drivers found it a difficult but enjoyable challenge. However, the action on track did suffer a bit, and I’m sure the organizers will look for ways to improve that next year.”
From a team perspective, Vowles acknowledged it was a tough race for Williams. “It highlighted our current weaknesses—we haven’t made significant performance gains for a while and we’ve slipped behind our rivals. On the soft and medium tyres, we experienced graining, where performance drops off rapidly on longer runs. The hard tyre, though, worked well for many cars over the race distance, which shows Pirelli made an excellent choice and the tarmac suited the compounds.”
Vowles concluded by emphasizing the key challenge for the future: “The main thing is to focus on how we can create more overtaking opportunities in the years ahead. Other than that, it was an excellent first race. Madrid could truly become one to watch on the F1 calendar.”
