EXCLUSIVE: Sainz on bringing F1 back to his home city of Madrid

Carlos Sainz knows what it's like to have a home Grand Prix, the Spaniard having competed in 12 of them in Formula 1 in Barcelona. He knows how to deliver for his home fans, too, having scored in each of the first 10 of those appearances. But never has he raced in a Formula 1 Grand Prix in his home city of Madrid – until now.

This weekend, he'll compete in the Spanish Grand Prix in Madrid, on a new part-street, part-purpose-built 22-turn circuit called the Madring. The 32-year-old has played a key role in the project from acting as an adviser to helping promote it. The passion he has for the event is infectious.

"I've been lucky enough to have a home race pretty much all through my career thanks to the Grand Prix in Barcelona," says Sainz when we chat all things Madrid in the Williams hospitality unit. "The fact that it's a lot closer to my [family] home, only 15 minutes by car, and all my family and all my friends are from there, it's probably going to feel even more special.