The Madring will become the first Formula 1 circuit to deploy an evolved barrier solution designed specifically for its ‘La Monumental’ banked corner.
The signature 550-meter curve features a 13.5° banking with a 24% incline, making it one of the longest and most demanding banked corners on the modern F1 calendar.
Recent driver feedback includes Scuderia Ferrari HP driver Charles Leclerc, who praised it as “one of the most iconic corners of the season” after a filming day at the circuit in July.
F3 drivers have also paid tribute to the unique challenge, with Audi F1 development driver Freddie Slater saying it is “one of the most fun circuits for a single lap” after a recent test.
Creating the corner from flat ground was a huge engineering effort. IFEMA repurposed excavated soil to form the banking and laid asphalt at extreme angles.
It then required a unique safety solution from specialists Geobrugg, as drivers are expected to build up to speeds of 150mph.
Safety at speed
Geobrugg is one of the main suppliers of debris fences across the F1 calendar, with its solutions appearing at the Red Bull Ring, Silverstone, Miami, Las Vegas, Jeddah, Hungaroring and Spa Francorchamps.
For the Madring, it provided a world-first solution that combines its Mobile Debris Fences with DELTABLOC concrete safety barriers and SmithFence’s Steel and Foam Energy Reduction (SAFER) barrier.
With the Mobile Debris Fence angled 90° to the banking, the system marks the first time anchoring pins have been used on a banked curve to secure the concrete barriers to the asphalt.
This means the barriers will not shift upon impact, providing a stable platform for the SAFER barrier to work.
“Like oval racing in NASCAR, cars will slide along the SAFER barrier upon impact, dissipating energy while preventing them from bouncing back into traffic,” says Jochen Braunwarth, Director of Motorsport Solutions at Geobrugg.
“This bespoke solution is crucial for La Monumental, where F1 cars will build up to some of the fastest speeds seen on a street circuit as they round the corner.”
More than 3,300 concrete safety barriers were produced to house Geobrugg’s high-tensile steel mesh debris fence panels across the track.
To meet demand, they enlisted Portuguese company Vialsil, which produced them at a rate of 35 per day to meet the project deadline in early June this year.
“We made a significant jump in production capability to meet the aggressive 14-month construction deadline,” says Francisco Portela of Vialsil.
“In addition to block manufacturing, our team managed assembly and barrier installation directly with Geobrugg.”
Beyond the banking
In addition to the banking, Geobrugg has introduced tailored safety innovations across complex sections of the track. To help the drivers’ line of vision in the braking zone at Turn 20, a shortened version of the Mobile Debris Fence has been used.
A special opening in the pit wall provides grid access for marshals, officials, and team members, and improved access for photographers and TV crews.
In the weeks leading up to the race, Geobrugg collaborated directly with F1 TV producers to engineer 19 flexible camera openings and 60 photographer cutouts.
Each opening features high-tensile mesh secured by stabilisation struts and tension bars, enabling tight action shots at 210km/h without compromising structural integrity.
Sustainability has also played a central role in the circuit design, which features a 5.5 megawatt solar installation supplying green power to the venue.
As part of this initiative, Geobrugg has deployed carbon-neutral concrete barriers in the paddock zone, which were co-developed with Austrian road safety specialists DELTABLOC.
“This project demonstrates how street circuit engineering can deliver breathtaking speed and spectacle while upholding the highest FIA safety standards,” says Braunwarth.
