F1's TV visuals are letting its Madrid track down
Television doesn't do the Madring justice.
It's a spectacular place to watch Formula 1 cars, which was clear from heading trackside during FP1 and visiting various vantage points in the first half of the lap during the session. Yet following FP2 from the media centre with sight of the world feed it looked like an entirely different - blander - venue.
Partly, that is the curse of such 'urban' circuits. The nature of such facilities means endless fences, barriers punctuated only by occasional bridges branded by Pirelli, American Express et al, which dominate what fans at home see. It also leaves little room to manoeuvre when it comes to camera positions in terms of space, especially given the need to ensure they offer clean backdrops that aren't polluted by some of the necessary temporary infrastructure such as Portaloos.
This makes it difficult to showcase a circuit that, while certainly no Suzuka or Spa, is a very worthy addition to the calendar. "A commitment track" is how Charles Leclerc characterised it, and that's exactly what drivers and fans desire from the driving challenge of a new circuit. Yet the onboard cameras, which usually sanitise and stabilise the experience, are forced to do the heavy lifting.
It's a privileged position to be able to get up close to the cars when they are running - and this isn’t about arguing viewers should appreciate what they can't see. But while the coverage is, for all the criticisms, excellent (check out a broadcast from 30 years ago to see how far it has come), it's the alpha and omega when it comes to showcasing F1. You cannot build excitement and enthusiasm for a first grand prix, then show it off so poorly.
There's an unavoidable flattening effect from filming that is impossible to get around, and no matter how many races you see from Spa before you visit, your reaction to seeing the steep incline of Eau Rouge in person will always take your breath away.
This means the elevation change at Madring will be subdued on screen. But what doesn't come over so well is just how unforgiving it is, giving drivers little or no margin for error in many places where there can be big laptime gains, or losses, in committing that little bit more. This side of Madring should be experienced by everyone, not just those on the ground.
The banked corner of La Monumental is a great example. Conceived as a Mexico stadium-style cauldron, where spectators crowd the corner, it is a uniquely long turn with big consequences should things go wrong - yet it becomes flat on TV. The low angle and the not-quite-high-enough elevated angle diminish its grandeur. And parts of the track resemble just another Miami/Sochi-style venue.
Part of that is the surroundings. It's built in and around the IFEMA exhibition centre, which by definition will comprise large halls and their infrastructure. In some ways, this is used well with the distinctive indoor team trucks/engineering hubs (as opposed to the hospitality units, which are outside). But it poses limitations because the environs are, fundamentally, bland. There's little that screams 'Madrid' about it, partly because it's outlying rather than in the city centre.
It will improve next year, even if no conscious action is taken - because the Madring will have had time to bed in, it will be tidier and cleaner. Camera locations and views will be optimised and that should at least close the gap.
None of this is easy and plenty of effort will have already gone into showing it off well, but there must also be some serious thinking in how to present a charismatic circuit that genuinely adds something unique to the calendar more faithfully.
The design of the ribbon of asphalt is the key part of any F1 newcomer, and Madring has done a good job with that, but more can be done to show that to the outside world.
A version of this column first appeared in From the Paddock - part of The Race's new expanded newsletter offering in which our team bring exclusive paddock and behind the scenes insight direct to your inbox. Click here to find out more and sign up.
