Jarno Zaffelli: Madrid F1 circuit aimed for even steeper corners

The architect of Madrid’s brand-new Formula 1 venue says he originally hoped to create corners even steeper than those that made Zandvoort famous.

As the Dutch Grand Prix weekend gets underway, the seaside track prepares for its penultimate race before dropping off the calendar after 2026. Since returning in 2021, Zandvoort’s distinctive high-banked turns have stood out as a hallmark of modern circuit design.

Jarno Zaffelli, whose design company Dromo oversaw the Dutch revamp, said the project was a career highlight. “For us as a company, Zandvoort was truly the highlight,” he told De Telegraaf. “At many circuits you have to make compromises and adapt your initial ideas.

"That wasn’t the case at Zandvoort – we mainly had to consider environmental requirements.” Looking ahead to his next major project – the new Madring street track in Spain’s capital debuting in 2026 – Zaffelli admitted he pushed for something even bolder.

“Yes, we wanted to go even more extreme in Madrid, but unfortunately that turned out to be impossible,” he revealed. “But it’s clear that Zandvoort has been an eye-opener. I think it will eventually be possible to design something steeper than what we see in Zandvoort, but that will probably take a few years.”