The Spanish Grand Prix starts at 15:00 local time on Sunday 13 September 2026. Qualifying is Saturday at 16:00. Gates at Madring open at 08:00 and close at 20:00 every day of the weekend, and re-entry isn’t allowed once your ticket is scanned. This is a standard Formula 1 weekend and not a Sprint race, though Formula 2 and Formula 3 do run their own Sprint races on Saturday.
Full Madrid F1 weekend timetable
All times are local (Madrid, CEST, UTC+2). Formula 1 sessions are shown in bold. Press conferences and media-only sessions aren’t included, since they’re not open to general admission ticket holders. Sunday’s second Formula 3 Feature Race also decides that championship’s 2026 title, so if you’re at the circuit early, you’re watching more than a support race.
Friday 11 September
| Session | Time |
| FIA Formula 3 – Practice | 09:55 to 10:40 |
| FIA Formula 2 – Practice | 11:05 to 11:50 |
| F1 Car Presentation | 12:00 to 13:00 |
| Formula 1 – Free Practice 1 | 13:30 to 14:30 |
| FIA Formula 2 – Qualifying | 15:00 to 15:30 |
| Formula 1 – Free Practice 2 | 17:00 to 18:00 |
| FIA Formula 3 – Qualifying Session 1 | 18:25 to 18:45 |
| FIA Formula 3 – Qualifying Session 2 | 18:55 to 19:15 |
Saturday 12 September
| Session | Time |
| FIA Formula 3 – Sprint Race (16 laps) | 11:05 to 11:50 |
| Formula 1 – Free Practice 3 | 12:30 to 13:30 |
| FIA Formula 2 – Sprint Race (23 laps) | 14:15 to 15:05 |
| Formula 1 – Qualifying | 16:00 to 17:00 |
| FIA Formula 3 – Feature Race 1 (19 laps) | 18:00 to 18:50 |
Sunday 13 September
| Session | Time |
| FIA Formula 3 – Feature Race 2 (19 laps) | 09:45 to 10:35 |
| FIA Formula 2 – Feature Race (32 laps) | 11:25 to 12:30 |
| Formula 1 – Drivers’ Parade | 13:00 to 13:30 |
| Formula 1 – National Anthem | 14:44 to 14:46 |
| Formula 1 – Grand Prix (57 laps) | 15:00 to 17:00 |
Track running starts at 09:55 on Friday, 11:05 on Saturday, and 09:45 on Sunday, and continues into the evening on Friday and Saturday.
Madrid F1 Gate opening and closing times
Madring’s gates open at 08:00 and close at 20:00, every day of the race weekend. This comes directly from the organiser’s own event terms, so unlike some circuits, there’s no conflicting reseller figure to weigh up here. The one rule worth knowing before you plan your day: re-entry isn’t permitted. Once your ticket is scanned, you can’t leave and come back in, so plan your food and breaks for inside the venue.
When to arrive each day
Friday is relaxed. The first Formula 1 session doesn’t start until 13:30, so a late-morning arrival still gets you the early support-series sessions.
Saturday is a longer day at the track. Formula 3’s Sprint Race opens the track at 11:05, and Formula 3’s first Feature Race closes it out at 18:00; if you want the full card either side of Formula 1 Qualifying, plan to be there for most of the day.
Sunday starts early. Formula 3’s second Feature Race, the one deciding their championship, gets underway at 09:45, more than five hours before the Grand Prix. Given the no re-entry rule, decide your day before you go through the gate: if you only want the Grand Prix, arriving by early afternoon is enough, but you’ll miss both support-series feature races.
FAQs About Madrid F1 Schedule
1. What time does the Spanish Grand Prix start in Madrid?
The Formula 1 race starts at 15:00 local time on Sunday 13 September 2026. Qualifying is the day before, at 16:00 on Saturday.
2. What time do the gates open at Madring?
Gates open at 08:00 and close at 20:00 on all three days of the race weekend. Re-entry isn’t allowed once your ticket has been scanned, so plan to stay inside the venue for the day.
3. Is the Madrid Grand Prix a Sprint weekend?
No. Formula 1 runs a standard weekend format at Madring in 2026, with three practice sessions and one qualifying session. Formula 2 and Formula 3 each run their own Sprint races as part of the support programme, but this doesn’t affect the Formula 1 schedule.
4. Is anything else being decided at the Madrid Grand Prix?
Yes. Formula 3’s 2026 championship is decided during the weekend, Madring hosts the series’ season finale, with an expanded format of two qualifying sessions and two Feature Races. The second Feature Race, on Sunday morning, ends the season.