Asphalt laid for La Monumental, the iconic corner of MADRING

MADRING has taken another major step forward in its construction with the paving of Turn 12, a defining feature of the FORMULA 1 TAG HEUER GRAN PREMIO DE ESPAÑA, set to take place in Madrid from 11 to 13 September.

Measuring 550 meters in length and shaped as a semicircle, La Monumental is the longest corner on the calendar and features an extreme 24% banking. Drivers will face a significant technical challenge as they spend approximately six seconds leaning into the corner in their single-seaters. Adding to its scale is a maximum height of 10 meters, forming an imposing wall of asphalt that aims to redefine the concept of a Formula 1 corner.

Paving of La Monumental, the Madring’s most iconic corner. Image supplied by MADRING

A “Monumental” technical challenge

The paving of the first base layer of Turn 12 has been one of the most demanding technical tasks of the entire project. Due to its geometry and steep banking, it is the most complex area of the circuit to execute, requiring millimeter-level precision.

To guarantee such accuracy, two state-of-the-art pavers were used working in perfect synchrony — an uncommon operational setup that ensured continuity and uniformity in the asphalt across a layout of this nature.

The dimensions of Turn 12 required more than 1,800 cubic meters of asphalt mix, equivalent to covering the entire grass pitch of the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium with a 25-centimeter layer.

The asphalt used for La Monumental is also 100% “made in Madrid”. The mix was produced at the Vicálvaro plant and laid at a temperature of around 170 degrees, a critical condition that limits its usable time to barely 30 minutes from production. This requirement made the plant’s proximity essential to optimise logistics and guarantee the quality of the final result.

Meanwhile, construction continues across all phases of the MADRING project. Paving of the remaining layout in the Valdebebas area will be carried out over the course of this week and next, with the intermediate asphalt layer scheduled for April. The structures of the future team garages are already visible from outside the Pit Building, which is progressing steadily.

With 172 days to go until the FORMULA 1 TAG HEUER GRAN PREMIO DE ESPAÑA begins, MADRING now boasts La Monumental — the defining corner that will not only make the Grand Prix unique, but also give it its character.