Gary Paffett predicts the 2026 Madrid E-Prix
CUPRA KIRO’s Racing Director, Gary Paffett, shares his expert insights ahead of the 2026 CUPRA Raval Madrid E-Prix, in collaboration with Duelbits
The 2026 CUPRA Raval Madrid E-Prix heralds the FIA Formula E World Championship's landmark return to Spain, but despite previously running at the Circuito del Jarama during Pre-Season Testing in 2024, the challenge facing teams this weekend is far from familiar.
From changes to the circuit layout to the introduction of Pit Boost for the first time in a single-header race, there are countless factors that could shape the outcome of the sixth round of the 2025/26 season.
CUPRA KIRO's Racing Director, Gary Paffett, is one of the most experienced voices in the paddock, and in collaboration with Duelbits, shares his perspective on what might happen in Madrid…
The “We Tested Here” Myth
“Every team will say that they’ve got a head start coming into this weekend because Formula E tested at Jarama in 2024. The reality is that it’ll probably take two laps for everyone to realise that the track is different, the weather is different, and that the cars have advanced. By lap three, everyone will be pretending that the data ever existed.”
A Carbon Fibre Graveyard
“Since Pre-Season Testing in 2024, the temporary chicane has changed direction, which means that the muscle memory that drivers built two years ago might betray them. The chicane now flows left-to-right instead of right-to-left, and I’m predicting that at least one driver will get it wrong and invent a new racing line.”
Pit Boost Chaos
“Madrid is the first single-header Formula E race with Pit Boost, and with Jarama being the longest lap of the season, timing will be absolutely everything. Nail the timing and you’ll look like a genius, but if you get the window wrong, you could spend the rest of the race trying to catch up, especially when Attack Mode gets factored in…”
Attack Mode Could be the Decider
“Jarama’s long lap means that the timing of Attack Mode could completely flip the race. If you take it too early, you’ll spend the next few laps watching everyone you just overtook driving straight past you. Like we saw in Jeddah, I predict that we’ll see most of the field save Attack Mode for right at the very end.”
Quiet Consistency Will Win the Day
“Jarama is quite a technical track, and unlike other Formula E circuits, it’s a track where you can’t just throw the car down the inside of every corner. The driver who strings together the most consistent laps and uses their energy economically will be right at the front by the end. It doesn’t sound glamorous, but being clever is what wins races.”