The anticipation was at its peak in Madrid, after 45 years without a Formula One Grand Prix. And that was evident in the stands, where 353,000 spectators packed over the weekend the Madring circuit to enjoy the first edition of the Spain GP, where Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli became the winner. Red Bull driver Max Verstappen finished second, while McLaren’s Lando Norris completed the podium in third place.
Beyond what happened on the track, the new semi-urban circuit designed at IFEMA, Madrid’s fairground, became a meeting point for a multitude of VIPs. Personalities from sport, culture and society, with special prominence of the football world and specifically Real Madrid, toured Madring’s paddock with their credentials.
Undoubtedly, those who drew the most attention were the members of our Royal Family. Felipe VI, without Queen Letizia but accompanied by Princess Leonor and Infanta Sofía, toured the facilities and greeted before the start of the race the two Spanish drivers on the grid: Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) and Carlos Sainz (Williams).
In another display of support for Spanish sport after his appearance in the World Cup final, the monarch was the one responsible for handing the winner’s trophy to the Italian driver Kimi Antonelli. The presence of the Royal Family at the Grand Prix headed a long list of guests that turned Madring into a full red carpet.
The world of sport throws its support behind F1
The fact that the circuit was near Real Madrid’s training city in Valdebebas meant that nearly the entire Real Madrid squad did not miss the Formula 1 race. In Madring we could see Vinícius Júnior, Jude Bellingham, Fede Valverde or Marc Cucurella, accompanied by his partner, Claudia Rodríguez. Also the Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, who owns a motorsport team that competes in Formula 4.
Marc Cucurella and Claudia Rodríguez at Madring.
The Real Madrid players were accompanied by their coach, José Mourinho, and their president, Florentino Pérez. We also saw several club legends such as Zinedine Zidane, Luis Figo or Roberto Carlos. Sir David Beckham was a guest at the circuit on Friday, alongside several Atletico Madrid players such as Jan Oblak or Fernando Torres.
Rafa Nadal, another sporting figure of his era and a big Formula 1 fan, also generated great anticipation; the 22-time Grand Slam tennis champion had already attended the Miami Grand Prix a few months earlier. Two renowned coaches, Diego Pablo Simeone and Luis de la Fuente, completed the roster of well-known sports figures at the Madrid circuit.
The Madring red carpet
The concentration of celebrities also encompassed stars from cinema, music and television. Pilar Rubio – together with her husband, Sergio Ramos, and their children –, Paula Echevarría or Blanca Suárez were among the regulars on the social pages who did not want to miss a historic day for the capital live.
Pilar Rubio, posing in the Madring paddock.
Singers such as Luis Fonsi or Ana Mena and actors such as Jaime Lorente or Patrick Dempsey added their own touch to boost the paddock’s glamour. And Victoria Federica’s presence could not be missing, a regular at this type of event. The daughter of Infanta Elena and Jaime de Marichalar did not miss Formula 1’s return to the capital, on a day when she could also coincide with her cousins Leonor and Sofia.
