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Noise at Madring reaches peaks of 109 decibels next to homes
The first single-seater tests at Madring have reignited the controversy over noise just weeks before Formula 1 debuts in Madrid. The Stop Fórmula 1 Madrid platform claims to have measured an average of 102.7 decibels next to homes near the circuit during the Formula 3 tests held this Monday.
The measurement was taken at 10:52 am outside number 14 on Francisco Umbral street. According to data released by the neighbourhood group, the sound level meter recorded maximums of 107.7 dBA and a peak of 109.1, while several F3 cars were running on the new track.
These figures do not come from an official City Council measurement and have not been independently verified, but they have fuelled a concern that has accompanied the project since its early stages. Stop Fórmula 1 Madrid compares these values with the acoustic limits set for residential areas in the capital and calls for public monitoring during the tests and the future Gran Premio.
The municipal ordinance sets a reference limit of 55 dBA during the day for residential areas. However, the comparison cannot be made simply by setting that number against a peak captured by any sound level meter, as the regulations establish procedures, evaluation times, and specific conditions to determine whether there is a breach.
The Formula 3 tests are being held this Monday 24 and Tuesday 25 August as a real trial for Madring ahead of the Gran Premio de España de Fórmula 1, scheduled for 11 to 13 September. On the first day, ten teams and 30 drivers took part, with activity on track between 9 am and 5 pm.
For those living next to the track, these tests also offer the first glimpse of what a race weekend might sound like. The homes in Valdebebas and other nearby areas are already dealing with construction, traffic changes, and preparations, and noise has become one of the main concerns for some residents.
The platform also has two legal cases open: one against the modification of the Plan Parcial that allowed the circuit to be developed, and another against the licence linked to holding the event. The acoustic impact is one of the arguments opponents use to question whether an event of this kind can coexist with residential areas so close by.
The first real test for Madring thus leaves two very different perspectives. For the organisers, the F3 cars allow the circuit to be fine-tuned before Formula 1 arrives; for critical neighbours, the sound of the engines confirms a concern that until now they could only imagine. In September, with the full grid on track and tens of thousands of fans around, that debate will once again be measured from the balconies.