Today is the final day of racing at MADRING, the culmination of the 2026 FORMULA 1 TAG HEUER SPANISH GRAND PRIX, and it is expected to draw the largest crowd. Not surprisingly, the event was announced as sold out a few days before the circuit’s opening in the capital, and according to City Hall estimates, a total of approximately 345,000 attendees will visit the MADRING semi-urban circuit between Valdebebas and the area surrounding IFEMA throughout the weekend.
Given the large number of people expected, the city government has launched a mobility plan that includes additional service on Metro lines with stops in the area. The venue will be open daily from 8:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Below is an overview of the most convenient routes for reaching the Formula 1® venue in Madrid via public transportation ( the most recommended option, according to City Hall).
Two sectors cut off from one another: the different sections of the MADRING map
The circuit, located between the districts of Hortaleza and Barajas in northeastern Madrid, is divided into two sectors: MADRING North, in Valdebebas, and MADRING South, at the IFEMA exhibition center. There is no pedestrian connection between the two within the circuit, so depending on which area of the venue each entrance corresponds to, the access points will vary, as will the nearest Metro, Cercanías, and bus stops:
- MADRING Sur includes sections 1A, 1, 2, 2A, 3, 3A, 4, and 5. Its main public transportation stop will be the Feria de Madrid Metro station.
- MADRING North, sections 6, 6A, 7, 8, 8A, 9, 9A, 10, 10A, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 15A, 16, and 17. For this sector, the main public transportation stop will be the Valdebebas commuter rail station.
The route to MADRING will therefore depend on whether your ticket specifies a section and grandstand in the northern or southern part of the circuit. In addition, there will be different Fan Zones set up for the public within the venue, and access to each one will also be tied to your ticket. It’s a good idea to check your assigned Fan Zone in advance, as it won’t be possible to move from one to another during the event.
Recommended public transportation options for each section of the circuit
Madrid Metro: Additional Service on Lines 4, 5, and 8
The Metro will be the best option for those traveling to MADRING from downtown, the airport, and the metropolitan area. The main line serving the area is Line 8, which will have additional trains running throughout the weekend. During peak hours, trains will run approximately every 3 minutes (at 50% above their usual capacity). This isn’t the only line affected; Lines 4 and 5 will also increase their service and see additional trains added.
Additional Metro de Madrid service will be provided especially at the beginning and end of the day, during the hours when the highest number of trips is expected: between 8:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. and between 5:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m.
The main Metro stations in the area and the Formula 1® circuit entrances closest to each of them are:
- Feria de Madrid (IFEMA): connection to Line 8. Recommended for access to MADRING Sur (specifically, entrances A, B, and C1).
- Mar de Cristal: Lines 4 and 8. Also near MADRING Sur (entrance C2).
- Canillas: Line 4. Near MADRING South (C2 entrance).
- San Lorenzo: Line 4. In the MADRING North area, near Access D.
One possible route from downtown to MADRING Sur could be, for example, to take the Metro (lines 6 and 10) or the Cercanías commuter rail (lines C-10, C-7, C-8, C-4, C-3, or C-2) to Nuevos Ministerios and then transfer to line 8 toward Mar de Cristal or Feria de Madrid.
Commuter trains: the most direct way to get to MADRING North
To reach the circuit area in Valdebebas from anywhere in the Community of Madrid, the City Council recommends taking the C-1 commuter train line to the Valdebebas station on Avenida de las Fuerzas Armadas (the closest to the circuit’s E entrance).
In this case, the simplest option would be to go to Chamartín and from there take the C-1 toward Valdebebas. The main connections at Chamartín station are:
- Metro: Lines 1 and 10.
- Commuter trains: lines C-1, C-2, C-3, C-3a, C-4, C-4a, C-4b, C-7, C-8, and C-10 (useful for those traveling from other towns in the Community of Madrid).
City Hall has confirmed that on both Saturday and Sunday, trains will run every 5 minutes between 8:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. and between 3:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. to meet the high demand.
EMT buses and shuttle service
To get to MADRING by bus, the event’s website recommends the following:
- To reach the southern area: lines 120, 122, 104, 171, T11, 87, 172SF, 125, and 172.
- To get to the northern area: lines 171, 174, and N28.
- To get to the main entrance at IFEMA MADRID: bus lines 73, SE709, 122, 828, and 112.
The 828 Madrid-Canillejas-Alcobendas-Universidad Autónomaintercity bus line also serves the Valdebebas area and Feria de Madrid, and during the race weekend, it will adjust its routes and stops, according to a city council announcement. This route will increase its service on the busiest days; on Saturday and Sunday, it will make the same number of trips as it normally does on a weekday.
In addition, shuttle buses have been set up from Plaza de Castilla, Canillejas, Avenida América, and the Estadio Metropolitano. They will be in operation on September 11 and 13:
- MR3 Shuttle: Feria de Madrid–Valdebebas. It will connect the southern and northern parts of the venue internally between 6:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m.
- MR1 Shuttle: Metropolitano–Feria de Madrid–Valdebebas. It will run from 7:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. It stops at both the MADRING South and MADRING North areas.
- MR2 Shuttle: Canillejas–Feria de Madrid, operating from 7:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., with a stop in the southern area.
- MR4 Shuttle: Plaza Castilla–Valdebebas, operating from 7:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., with a stop in the IFEMA area.
- MR5 Shuttle: Feria de Madrid–Avenida de América, operating between 5:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. It will only carry passengers heading toward Avenida de América.