Tag Heuer Gran Premio de Espana
Location: Madrid, Spain
Course: Madring
Course Length: 5.42km
Laps: 57
Spanish Grand Prix Race Preview
This weekend's Spanish Grand Prix will be the first race at the new Madring circuit that combines public roads and purpose-built sections, which promises to make this particular race one of the more unpredictable ones fans will experience this season. Fresh from his massive Monza comeback, Kimi Antonelli arrives with momentum and a 66-point championship advantage over teammate George Russell. Both Russell and Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton need a strong response this week in order to keep the title fight alive. Compounding the championship pressure is this brand-new 22-corner Madrid circuit, where Formula 3 testing produced numerous red flags and highlighted several potential danger zones. Fans could expect to see mistakes, incidents, safety cars, and strategy shakeups throughout the weekend. Home favorites Carlos Sainz Jr. and Fernando Alonso will have massive crowd support, but the spotlight will be on whether Mercedes can continue its dominance or whether Ferrari can rebound after a difficult home race last week. Fantasy players should expect a chaotic first visit to Madring, more overtaking opportunities, and a race that could either tighten the championship battle or allow Antonelli to take another major step toward the 2026 title.
Key Stats at Madring
- Races: 0
- Winners from pole: 0
- Winners from top-5 starters: 0
- Winners from top-10 starters: 0
- Winners from 21st or lower starters: 0
- Fastest race: N/A
Previous 10 Spanish Grand Prix Winners
2025 Catalunya - Oscar Piastri
2024 Catalunya - Max Verstappen
2023 Catalunya - Max Verstappen
2022 Catalunya - Max Verstappen
2021 Catalunya - Lewis Hamilton
2020 Catalunya - Lewis Hamilton
2019 Catalunya - Lewis Hamilton
2018 Catalunya - Lewis Hamilton
2017 Catalunya - Lewis Hamilton
2016 Cataluya - Max Verstappen
The all-new Madring combines public roads with purpose-built sections to create a 22-turn circuit around the IFEMA exhibition center. The track layout features a tight and twisting section with a fast and flowing portion that offers flowing corners and elevation changes. The combination of these two different sections will require teams to compromise their downforce settings to have grip in the tight turns while not losing too much speed down the straights. Perhaps the most unique aspect of the track is its high-banked turn 12. That corner boasts 24-degree banking, which is even steeper than the teams faced at Zandvoort and the equivalent of NASCAR ovals such as Charlotte and Dover Motor Speedways. Junior series testing produced numerous incidents and Formula 1 teams could also find it difficult to come to grips with the unique circuit. Tire wear, especially through the heavily-loaded fast corners and turn 12, could prove to be a defining difference between success and failure. Both practice and qualifying will be essential sessions to monitor before finalizing lineups for this weekend's race.
RotoWire Formula 1 DFS Tools
DraftKings Value Picks for the Spanish Grand Prix
Based on Standard $50K Salary Cap
DraftKings Tier 1 Values
Kimi Antonelli - $13,400
Lando Norris - $13,000
Lewis Hamilton - $10,800
DraftKings Tier 2 Values
Max Verstappen - $9,400
Oscar Piastri - $9,000
Liam Lawson - $6,400
DraftKings Tier 3 Values
Pierre Gasly - $6,000
Arvid Lindblad - $5,800
Nico Hulkenberg - $5,200
Fernando Alonso - $4,200
DraftKings Constructor Values
Mercedes - $14,000
Ferrari - $13,000
McLaren - $11,700
Red Bull Racing - $7,700
Optimal DraftKings Lineup for the Spanish Grand Prix
Team Captain - Max Verstappen - $14,100
Liam Lawson - $6,400
Pierre Gasly - $6,000
Yuki Tsunoda - $4,800
Fernando Alonso - $4,200
Constructor - Mercedes - $14,000
Max Verstappen scored an impressive podium finish last week at Monza. While the Red Bull Racing car still is a step or two behind Mercedes and the other competition, Verstappen is able to find spots to succeed. This week's brand-new circuit could help him in that quest. Since everyone will be experiencing the track for the first time, it makes sense to go with those drivers with greater experience in these types of situations. In a weekend where the driver could have an outsized impact compared with other races, this is the week to bank a bit more heavily on someone like Verstappen.
Red Bull teammate Liam Lawson will continue to deputize for the injured Isack Hadjar. In the first two races he substituted in the Red Bull machine, Lawson finished seventh and 14th. Given the unique nature of the Madring, fantasy players should expect Lawson's production this week to be more similar to Zandvoort, where he finished seventh. Even teammate Verstappen noted Lawson's ability to adapt to the different car quickly, which could help Lawson grab another points finish this week.
Pierre Gasly sits right behind Lawson in the driver's standings. His impressive pole at Monza last week didn't translate to a podium finish in the race, but he continues to be capable of points-paying finishes each week. At Zandvoort, Gasly finished 10th and his average finish so far this season is 9.9. Fantasy players should expect similar production to that again this week despite the unfamiliar circuit.
Just as Lawson has been substituting for Isack Hadjar, Yuki Tsunoda will continue in his role filling Lawson's vacant seat. From his first two races in this new car, Tsunoda turned in 11th- and 10th-place finishes for an average result of 10.5. He got up to speed quickly despite not racing this season before Zandvoort. Additionally, Tsunoda has a hefty dose of experience to use in figuring out this new circuit. Without a permanent seat on the grid this season or beyond, Tsunoda also has extra motivation to use these races as chances to audition for a full-time return to Formula 1 racing.
A trip to Madrid means a home race for Spanish hero Fernando Alonso. Buoyed by the support of the home crowd, Alonso will be desperate to put in a good showing. After a disappointing visit to Barcelona earlier this season, this weekend is a chance for him to deliver more of what the Spanish fans are hoping for. Alonso scored points at Zandvoort two races ago and could be poised to add some more to his 2026 tally this week.
Mercedes remains the top choice for constructor. While Kimi Antonelli is starting to regain a firm grip on the driver's title, Mercedes remains the team most likely to put both drivers on any given podium. The car remains the fastest in the garage and, barring any mistakes, should carry both drivers to the podium again on Sunday.
Formula 1 Betting Picks for the Spanish Grand Prix
Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook as of 10:00 PM ET Friday
Race Winner - Kimi Antonelli +130
Podium Finish - Max Verstappen +250
Top-Ten Finish - Yuki Tsunoda +125
Safety Car - Yes -230, No +150
Antonelli enters Madrid having reasserted himself atop the championship standings, and he is coming off one of the most impressive drives of the season, coming from 19th on the grid to win at Monza. Mercedes has been the benchmark team for nearly the entire season, and the unknowns of the new Madring circuit could favor the driver and team that have consistently adapted best to changing conditions. He is a deserved favorite to win heading into the weekend, reflecting both his current form and the Mercedes advantage.
Verstappen remains one of the strongest qualifiers and has an experienced approach to race craft. New circuits tend to reward drivers who can adapt quickly and deliver in the face of unknowns, which Verstappen excels at. He finished third at Monza last week and has repeatedly demonstrated an ability to maximize results even when Red Bull lacks the speed to match some of the competition. With every team entering Madrid without a history at the circuit, Verstappen's adaptability makes him a strong candidate for another top-three finish.
Tsunoda scored a point last week by finishing tenth at Monza and continues to gain experience in the Racing Bulls package while filling in during the Red Bull driver shuffle. It was just his second race behind the wheel of that car. This week's new circuit could create similar opportunities through attrition, strategy variation, and execution, which are situations that Tsunoda has often capitalized when points-paying positions are within reach. If he qualifies higher up the midfield and avoids mistakes, another top-10 finish is a realistic expectation this weekend.
A relatively safe option to take this week is the appearance of a safety car. This circuit is a complete unknown to the Formula 1 paddock and the unique circuit could spawn some chaos. Junior category testing at the track produced multiple incidents with red flags, and it wouldn't be a stretch to think that trend will carry into the Formula 1 race. The odds aren't exactly lucrative for this wager, but it may be one of the safest options on the board.
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