Spanish Minister Brands Madrid F1 Race an ‘Absolute Dud’ After Overtaking Disaster

Spain's Minister of Transport and Sustainable Mobility, Óscar Puente, dismissed the inaugural Spanish Grand Prix at the Madrid circuit as "an absolute dud." Puente's harsh criticism stems from the race's limited overtaking opportunities, which he argues made the event dull and unexciting for spectators and drivers alike. Comparing the Spanish GP to Monaco, Puente noted that Monaco's narrow city streets have become increasingly challenging for overtaking as Formula 1 cars have grown larger over the years.

However, while Monaco featured 10 overtakes this year, the Madrid race saw only four. Puente expressed his disappointment while responding to a user on X who criticized the sporting side of the event. He stated that the Grand Prix itself was a failure mainly due to the circuit design, which he likened to a "Monaco 2 but faster."

Former F1 champion and Sky Sports F1 presenter Nico Rosberg echoed Puente's sentiments, calling for changes to the track for the 2027 race. Rosberg blamed Williams driver Carlos Sainz, who was unable to finish the race due to technical issues, for the shortcomings of the Madrid GP. Rosberg suggested that Sainz should be held accountable for the lack of overtaking opportunities, emphasizing that the issue should have been addressed during the circuit design process.