Impossible overtakes in Madrid
“Just put the car in the middle of the track”. Max Verstappen summed up how easy it was to defend second place from Lando Norris’s chase. Overtaking in Madrid was as difficult if not more than in Monaco and the organizers will take action for the 2027 edition.
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According to the publication The-Race.com, changes will be made to facilitate overtaking at even three points of the Madring. Obviously, the most suitable area for overtaking is the chicane of Turns 5/6 at the end of the long straight following the first chicane and the right-hand corner that leads into this stretch.
This year this S-curve was inexplicably designed forcing drivers to follow a single line on corner entry many meters before the first apex. Essentially, the track layout lined up the cars before the braking point and overtaking was practically impossible. The chicane design and curbs will be reshaped to allow two cars to approach side by side, thus facilitating overtaking.
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The other two points where the track will be modified to encourage overtaking are interesting. Turn 13 will be made slower right after the Monumental, essentially adding a braking zone that will allow attacks from those exiting very close behind the car ahead after the signature corner of the Madring. Turn 20 will also be modified, especially concerning the barrier on corner exit, to encourage drivers to attempt a move. We will see if these changes make the 2027 Madrid GP edition more exciting.
