By Graham Duxbury @TheRealDux 

This weekend, Formula One teams head to Madrid and the new 5.4km Madring circuit on the outskirts of the Spanish capital, where one of the most intriguing new additions to the modern Grand Prix calendar awaits. 

The 22-corner layout has been designed by Carsten Tilke to provide a mixture of high-speed corners, heavy braking zones and technical sequences, presenting engineers and drivers with a demanding set of challenges.

Among its most distinctive features is a tunnel section, adding another unusual visual and technical dimension to the lap, while a long straight should create opportunities for slipstreaming. 

However, the circuit's defining feature is undoubtedly La Monumental, a spectacular 24-degree banked corner that has already become the signature image of the Madring.

Taken at full throttle, La Monumental pushes circuit design to the limit of current FIA regulations, with 24 degrees representing the maximum banking angle permitted. 

The combination of speed, banking and sustained lateral forces will place enormous demands on tyres and drivers alike.

With no historical F1 data available, teams will arrive relying heavily on simulation work. Finding the right aerodynamic and mechanical balance quickly could prove crucial on what promises to be a fascinating debut weekend for Madrid's dramatic new GP venue.