Formula 1 heads to Madrid this weekend for the debut of the brand-new Madring circuit, set to join the calendar officially in 2026. With imposing walls, extreme banking, and searing Spanish temperatures on the horizon, the stage is set for a potentially chaotic inaugural Grand Prix. While the paddock waits for the first laps at Madring, here is a look back at how other venues fared when they hosted their first Formula 1 World Championship race.
Las Vegas 2023 – Glitz, Glamour, and Plenty of Drama
Although Las Vegas previously hosted the Caesars Palace Grand Prix, the Las Vegas Strip Circuit made its modern championship debut in 2023 with a spectacular night race framed by iconic landmarks. Ferrari locked out the front row in qualifying, but a power-unit penalty for Carlos Sainz handed pole position to Charles Leclerc alongside Max Verstappen.
The pair delivered wheel-to-wheel action through the opening lap, with Leclerc emerging ahead after Verstappen was penalised for forcing his rival wide. Sergio Perez joined the front-row battle, while multiple Safety Car periods shuffled strategy options. George Russell and Verstappen made contact, Lando Norris crashed out, and Fernando Alonso spun as drivers struggled for grip in the cool night air.
Verstappen ultimately claimed victory with a decisive pass on Leclerc, who held second despite a brief pass from Perez. The winner then collected his trophy in front of the famous Bellagio fountains, capping a debut that lived up to the hype.
Miami 2022 – Verstappen Wins in the Sunshine State
Miami joined the schedule in 2022, the first season of the new ground-effect car generation. The picturesque layout winding around the Hard Rock Stadium complex in Miami Gardens proved an instant hit. Verstappen, the title favourite, won the inaugural race but was made to work exceptionally hard by Leclerc.
Starting third, the Dutchman passed Sainz and Leclerc to take the lead and looked comfortable until a collision between Pierre Gasly and Norris tore the wheel off the McLaren and brought out the Safety Car. The pit-stop window split the field: some took fresh tyres, others stayed out. On the restart, Verstappen could not switch his hard compounds on and faced intense pressure from Leclerc on fresh rubber, plus a charging Perez. He held on for the win and went on to secure his second world title that year.
Saudi Arabia 2021 – Title Rivals Go Head-to-Head
The Jeddah Corniche Circuit arrived in 2021 boasting terrifying speeds and a layout that pushed cars and drivers to the limit. Drama struck on Saturday when Verstappen crashed in qualifying, gifting pole to Lewis Hamilton. The Briton led the early stages, but two red-flag stoppages turned the race on its head.
After the first restart, Verstappen cut back onto the track ahead of Hamilton, who also lost a position to Esteban Ocon. A second multi-car crash halted proceedings again. The next restart saw Ocon lead Hamilton and Verstappen, but the Dutchman swept to the front when the leaders tangled. Three Virtual Safety Car periods followed, and before the chequered flag, Verstappen and Hamilton made contact—Verstappen was ordered to cede the place but did so in a manner that caught Hamilton unaware, causing a rear-wing collision. The pair went side-by-side once more, Verstappen running wide to retain the lead, and the stewards intervened. The bad-tempered affair left the title rivals level on points heading into the finale.
Portimão 2020 – A New Venue in an Unusual Season
Portugal returned to the calendar in 2020 as Formula 1 navigated the COVID-19 pandemic, with the Algarve International Circuit earning praise for its rollercoaster layout. Lewis Hamilton, in the midst of a dominant Mercedes campaign, recorded his 92nd career victory here, breaking Michael Schumacher’s long-standing record for most Grand Prix wins.
The race featured varied strategies that sparked a flurry of early overtakes. Sainz surprisingly led from seventh on the grid after the opening exchanges before Mercedes reasserted control, setting up an intra-team battle between Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas that Hamilton won—one of 11 victories he claimed that season.
Azerbaijan 2016 – Rosberg Takes the Win on His Title Charge
The 2016 season will forever be defined by the Mercedes civil war between Hamilton and Nico Rosberg. It was Rosberg who struck first at the inaugural Baku event, then branded the European Grand Prix. He controlled the race relatively untroubled around the unique city circuit—long straights, right-angled corners, and the tight, twisty castle section.
Behind him, Hamilton fought reliability gremlins. After starting tenth, he climbed to fourth before an ERS failure dropped him back, a points loss he would later cite as pivotal in the championship fight. Fans were treated to an action-packed spectacle stuffed with overtakes, a trademark Baku has maintained ever since.
Turkey 2005 – Räikkönen Makes Late Bid to Stop Alonso’s Charge
When Istanbul Park debuted in 2005, a generational shift was underway: Fernando Alonso was building a title challenge as Michael Schumacher’s dominance waned, while Kimi Räikkönen attempted to haul a slower-starting McLaren into contention. Räikkönen started on pole at a circuit that instantly won over drivers and fans alike.
The Finn converted pole into victory, but the real spice came behind him. Juan Pablo Montoya ran second until a late collision with a backmarker allowed Alonso through for P2 and crucial championship points. Meanwhile, Schumacher and Mark Webber clashed in an incident-packed afternoon. Despite a late winning streak from the McLaren drivers, Alonso sealed his maiden world title.
Malaysia 1999 – A Comeback Race in Attritional Conditions
Sepang’s first Grand Prix in 1999 is remembered as Schumacher’s comeback race following a broken leg sustained at Silverstone. It was also a brutal test of machinery: only 11 cars saw the chequered flag.
Ferrari orchestrated a team-orders maneuver, with a dominant Schumacher slowing to back up the field and aid Eddie Irvine’s title bid, securing a 1-2 finish. The drama continued post-race when both scarlet cars were disqualified for a technical infringement, only to be reinstated on appeal. Malaysia’s debut delivered controversy, attrition, and a championship twist all in one afternoon.
Hungary 1986 – One of the Great Overtakes
While Hungary had hosted a race in the 1930s, the Hungaroring’s 1986 debut marked Formula 1’s first venture behind the Iron Curtain. The tight, sweeping layout—often likened to a go-kart track—produced a moment for the ages.
Nelson Piquet dived around the outside of Ayrton Senna’s Lotus into Turn 1, sliding his Williams sideways through the corner and narrowly avoiding contact. It remains one of the most celebrated overtakes in F1 history. Piquet went on to win from Senna and teammate Nigel Mansell, who finished a lap down in third as 16 cars failed to reach the flag.
