Ferrari will give Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc an edge over their Formula 1 rivals later this week after accepting an invitation from race organisers to complete a filming day at the sport's newest circuit in Madrid. The 'Madring', which will host the Spanish Grand Prix for the first time in September, remains under construction, but the track surface has been laid and will be used for the first time on Thursday.
Filming Day Details and Regulations
Under F1 rules, each team is permitted two filming days per season. Ferrari used their first in April at Monza, and this Madrid outing will be their second and final such event. The running is limited to 200 kilometres, as it is classified as a 'promotional event', and the team must use filming tyres distinct from the race compounds supplied by Pirelli. Despite these constraints, the session offers Ferrari a valuable opportunity.
Because it is a filming day rather than a Testing of Previous Cars (TPC) session, Ferrari can use their 2026 car rather than an older generation. TPC sessions are prohibited at circuits that did not host an F1 race in the previous year, which rules out any other team from testing at the new Madring track.
Data Collection and Performance Benefits
Hamilton and Leclerc will get to test the new circuit in their current machinery. While the dummy tyres may limit learning, Ferrari can gather crucial data on engine battery energy deployment, which has become a major performance differentiator under this year's ruleset. According to The Race, F1 organisers have even covered the cost of Ferrari's filming day, as they are keen to verify that the new surface performs correctly when cars run on it.
This head-start on setup and energy deployment plans could prove significant for Ferrari ahead of the Spanish Grand Prix on September 11-13. The team is eager to close the gap to championship leaders Mercedes, who have had superior engine performance all season but have been plagued by reliability issues. The most recent setback saw Kimi Antonelli's British Grand Prix victory charge falter on Sunday, allowing Hamilton to move to within 32 points of the championship leader. In the constructors' standings, Ferrari trails by 78 points after Leclerc's win and a double podium at Silverstone.
