Spanish royals join crowd for first Madrid Grand Prix at Madring
King Felipe VI of Spain took Princess Leonor and Infanta Sofia to the Spanish Grand Prix on 13 September 2026 for Formula 1's first race at Madrid's new Madring circuit.
The Spanish Royal Household had confirmed the outing in advance. Its diary listed the King's attendance at the TAG Heuer race alongside the Princess of Asturias, the formal title held by the heir to the Spanish throne, and her younger sister. The official entry gives the engagement as "Asistencia al Gran Premio de España de Fórmula 1 2026" in Madrid on 13.9.2026. Casa Real
Felipe arrived at the track two hours before the start. The race was due to begin at 15:00 local time. Before the lights went out, the King, Leonor and Sofia met drivers Fernando Alonso and Carlos Sainz. Hello! Magazine
The setting was new. Madring is a 5.4-kilometre semi-urban circuit built for Formula 1's return to the Spanish capital. It includes a corner called La Monumental. It was the city's first Grand Prix in 45 years, since Gilles Villeneuve won at Jarama in 1981.
Queen Letizia was not with them. Leonor, 20, has just started a degree in Political Science at Carlos III University of Madrid. Sofia, 19, was preparing to begin her second year at the Paris campus of Forward College, a private university with campuses in three European cities.
The 13 September race was the first Spanish Grand Prix staged at Madring. La Razón
What makes this stand out is the mix of firsts. A new home track, two Spanish drivers to greet, and a rare joint outing for the King and both his daughters as their university terms begin.
