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PREVIEW: Madrid makes its Formula E race debut as Spain hosts Round 6

PREVIEW 14 Mar 2026 8 Mins

As we get ready to race at an all-new venue, this is your 'all you need to know' guide ahead of the 2026 CUPRA Raval Madrid E-Prix.

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Preview by Katy Fairman

Formula E welcomes Madrid to the racing calendar, as the Spanish city prepares to host its very first championship race at the historic Circuito del Jarama. We’ve visited this track before, when it hosted 2024/25 pre-season testing, but after plenty of praise from drivers and teams we are now returning to race!

It’s been five years since we last raced in Spain, and there are a lot of things to know ahead of Round 6 of Season 12 including a new circuit to familiarise yourself with, PIT BOOST being back and the return of the famous Rookie Test.

Here’s your preview for the inaugural 2026 CUPRA Raval Madrid E-Prix.

Madrid makes it race debut

Spain’s capital city is ready to host its first Formula E race, as the all-electric championship makes its way to the Circuito del Jarama. It’s a venue steeped in history, having hosted Formula 1 across the late ‘60s, much of the ‘70s and held its final Spanish Grand Prix in 1981. Since then it’s become a hub for motorcycle racing, sports cars, and truck racing, but now is back to fronting World Championship events.

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The circuit Formula E will use is 3.934km and consists of 14 turns, running in a clockwise direction. There are plenty of elevation changes, and drivers were very complimentary of the circuit when we visited here in 2024. Jarama was happy to help host the annual pre-season test, after terrible flooding had devastated parts of the Valencia region and meant we could not run the scheduled test at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo.

Formula E, the FIA and circuit promoters have been working hard to prepare the venue for this grade of racing, and it’s going to be an excellent event so make sure you don’t miss it!

PIT BOOST is back

For the first time since being introduced last season, a single-header FIA Formula E World Championship event will be using PIT BOOST – an exciting new strategic element powered by the official PIT BOOST provider, Fortescue Zero.

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Normally only seen across one race of double-header events, like last time out in Jeddah, this time the 2026 CUPRA Raval Madrid E-Prix will feature PIT BOOST alongside one six-minute ATTACK MODE activation.

During the race, drivers will need to make a mandatory 30-second stop to gain an additional 10% energy boost to their battery. This adds another layer of strategy and additional jeopardy into race strategy to deliver more action-packed racing for the fans.

Rookie Test returns

Formula E’s annual Rookie Test is back for another season, this time moving location from Berlin to Madrid! The one day event, split into two sessions, gives teams a chance to run their cars but only fielding ‘rookie’ drivers.

According to the regulations, “a Driver who has never participated in a Competition or entering a Competition for the first time will be considered as a “Rookie” until the end of the season of its first participation or until the moment it participates in two Competitions in different seasons. Participation in a dedicated Rookie Free Practice as defined in Article 32.6 is not counted as a Competition participation.”

Previously big names in motorsport have participated in these rookie tests, including current Williams Racing F1 driver Alexander Albon, Le Mans winner Antonio Giovinazzi, multiple W Series Champion Jamie Chadwick and F1 Academy Champ Abbi Pulling, to name a few.

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Several full-time drivers on the grid have also received permanent seats after impressing during the rookie sessions, including Citroën Racing’s Nick Cassidy, Mahindra Racing and Season 7 World Champion Nyck de Vries and DS PENKSE’s Taylor Barnard.

Keep an eye on the Formula E website and socials to see who has been confirmed for the test, taking place on Sunday 22 March 2026.

Five races and five different winners

Just like in previous seasons, Formula E has remained very unpredictable across the first five events of the 2025/26 season. There have been five different winners from four teams, with the level of competition still one of the highest in international motorsport.

Jake Dennis took first honours for himself and Andretti in Brazil, after breaking the curse and starting from pole to take victory. It was a long-time coming for the Season 9 champ, who had waited almost two years to stand back on the top step of the podium.

Next up was Nick Cassidy who climbed up the grid from 13th to first in front of the adoring Mexican fans, to take a first win for Citroën Racing; just two races into their single-seater debut.

Then it was Mitch Evans and Jaguar TCS Racing who celebrated success, putting their first points on the board after a challenging start to Season 12. Evans, who now tops the all-time wins record in Formula E after his 15th career victory, drove from ninth to first during a wet race at the Miami International Autodrome which was a new race venue for this season.

Jeddah saw Pascal Wehrlein climb back to the top spot with Porsche after starting third, and now places him top of the standings as we go into Madrid on 68 points. The following day, Antonio Felix da Costa became the fifth winner in five races, just five races into his move to Jaguar.

Jaguar TCS Racing became the first team this season to secure victories on either side of their garage, but with so many drivers still waiting for a win this season, this statistic could go on and on. Edoardo Mortara achieved both the pole positions in Jeddah, but unfortunately wasn’t able to convert them into first place, and reigning World Champion Oliver Rowland has picked up three podiums already this season but has yet to stand on the top step of the podium.

Home hero Martí

As well as it being a home race of sorts for CUPRA KIRO, with the Spanish car manufacturer also a title sponsor in Madrid, they will also be kept extra busy as they also have the the only Spanish driver on the grid: Pepe Martí.

The rookie for this season is a strong fan favourite, having joined Formula E this season from a successful campaign in FIA Formula 2. After a nasty crash in São Paulo, he has bounced back and managed three points-scoring finishes so far with a best result of sixth–and fastest lap–in Jeddah last time out.

Sustainability in Spain

As Formula E maintains its position as the world’s most sustainable sport, having achieved B Corp Certification last month, this commitment continues into the inaugural CUPRA Raval Madrid E-Prix and places a strong focus on inspiring young women and students across the city to discover their potential in STEM, engineering, and sustainable mobility, aligning closely with Formula E’s social impact & women’s strategies.

From grassroots social impact programmes and local community projects supported by the Better Futures Fund, to a power strategy utilising both renewable and grid energy alongside significant waste management systems, social and environmental sustainability continues to be embedded in Formula E’s DNA.

Sustainability credentials at the 2026 CUPRA Raval E-Prix include:

Sustainable Energy Sources: The E-Prix will be powered by a combination of grid electricity, battery technologies, solar power and Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil (HVO) - which reduces emissions by up to 90%.
Better Futures Fund: The fund will support its first recipient in Madrid, with the €25,000 donation to the ASTI Tech & Talent Foundation. Funding will be used to expand its flagship STEM Talent Girl programme - an initiative that provides mentorship, hands-on STEM learning, and career inspiration to young women, helping address the gender gap in technology and engineering. During race week, ASTI beneficiaries will join the Formula E Community Tour and FIA Girls on Track activities, connecting their STEM learning with the world of electric racing and future mobility in Madrid.
The Community Tour: The community tour will welcome over 200 participants from local community groups, for a full day at the track with a pit lane walk, gaming arena access and Free Practice 1 viewing, creating meaningful access to world-class sport and career inspiration.
Change. Accelerated. Live: Madrid: Formula E’s thought leadership event platform Change Accelerated Live will take place on Friday, 20th March in the series’ VIP hospitality area, the EMOTION CLUB, bringing together the brightest minds from the fields of motorsport, sustainability, politics, education and more. Change. Accelerated. Live: Madrid is set to open up discussion and insight as experts dive into the strategies and decision-making that are driving forward the innovations seen across sport, business and society. Formula E is pleased to have Bloomberg New Energy Finance and RACE (Royal Automobile Club of Spain) as Knowledge partners for the event in Madrid.
Air Freight Emissions Reduction: Formula E continues to reduce freight-related CO2 emissions in S12 through optimising logistics, reducing air freight from three planes to two, and enhancing sea freight solutions.

FIA Girls on Track at the 2026 CUPRA Raval E-Prix

Reaffirming its commitment to education and gender inclusivity in motorsport, the FIA Girls on Track initiative for Season 12 is aiming to reach even more young women in every race market, supporting the growing demand of young women who are seeking opportunities and support to pursue careers in motorsport.

FIA Girls on Track activity for the 2026 CUPRA Raval E-Prix includes:

Hosting up to 120 young women for its FIA Girls on Track programme across the race week. Attendees will participate in workshops, gaming, career talks and a Pit Lane Walk, promoting empowerment and education in motorsport and engineering.
The FIA Girls on Track programme is proudly supported by Hankook (Presenting Partner) and AutoLiv (Official Partner).

SCHEDULE: Where, when and how to watch or stream the 2026 CUPRA Raval Madrid E-Prix, Round 6

For Round 6 of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, Madrid hosts an E-Prix for the very first time! We’ll be heading to the Circuito del Jarama for a race weekend that promises plenty of action and entertainment, as Spanish driver, Pepe Marti, hopes to put on a show in front of his home crowd on Saturday March 21.

Free Practice 1: Friday 20 March, 16:30 local / 15:30 UTC
Free Practice 2: Saturday 21 March, 08:30 local / 07:30 UTC
Qualifying: Saturday 21 March, 10:40 local / 09:40 UTC
Race: Saturday 21 March, 15:05 local / 14:05 UTC

View the full schedule in your time zone and check the broadcaster listings or tap the Ways to Watch button above to find out where to watch all the racing action where you live.

Follow the race LIVE on web and in the Formula E app!

Keep across Live Timing – which includes a real-time interactive track map and the ability to follow your favourite driver during every session of every E-Prix – plus highlights, detailed session reports, exclusive interviews, all the standings and results as well as data, insight and reaction from trackside.

LIVE: Follow every lap live, with reaction and coverage at fiaformulae.com/live

Additionally, Formula E’s social media channels, website, and app will provide session reports, exclusive interviews, and behind-the-scenes insights from trackside during the five-day event.