Football manager Jose Mourinho has once again underlined his deep affinity for Formula 1, visiting the Madring circuit in Madrid for the first-ever Spanish Grand Prix held at the hybrid street/permanent venue. The visit came on Sunday, a day after his Real Madrid side posted a 4-1 win over Rayo Vallecano in La Liga.

Why the Madring Visit Was Personal

Mourinho explained that his connection to the new circuit ran deeper than mere curiosity. Real Madrid's training ground sits in close proximity to the Madring, meaning he had watched the venue take shape over months. 'Because I work just around the corner, every day that I was coming to work or leaving work, I was following it, the building (process), and the more we were approaching this day, (there was) more emotion for everybody,' he said, as quoted by F1.com.

The manager noted that while he has attended several F1 races over the years, the Madring event held particular significance as the circuit's maiden Grand Prix. 'I've enjoyed it (F1) for a while, and I've been to a few races, but of course this is the first one (at the Madring),' he added.

What Football Can Learn From F1, Per Mourinho

Mourinho drew a pointed comparison between elite football and Formula 1, suggesting that F1 drivers handle pre-race pressure more effectively than footballers do. 'You know, it's huge pressure for both. When you have sports at the highest level, we are always speaking about huge pressure,' he said.

'But I feel that they (F1) are one step ahead of us in terms of the way they approach the big moments. (In football) we close each other (off), I believe, too much, also because of tradition,' he continued. He specifically praised drivers for their ability to engage with media and the public before climbing into the car and competing at the limit — something he believes football can replicate.

His Bonds Within the F1 Paddock

Mourinho's ties to the Formula 1 world are well-established. He shares a close personal relationship with F1 President and CEO Stefano Domenicali and counts several drivers as friends. Notably, he presented the pole position award to Max Verstappen at the 2025 Silverstone race — a moment that illustrated how embedded he has become in the sport's inner circle.

When asked whether he would ever consider switching from football management to leading an F1 team, Mourinho was characteristically self-deprecating. 'I have no idea! I just have to learn. I learn with Stefano Domenicali; I ask him lots of questions,' he said. He added that he prefers attending qualifying sessions and practice runs, when access is more intimate, rather than race day itself, out of respect for the competitors' focus.

A Cross-Sport Friendship Built Over Years

Mourinho reflected warmly on the reception he has consistently received in the paddock. 'I know almost all of them, and everybody (has been) so nice to me over so many years. Now we're coming to some new people, to some new generations, but I always had great respect from them,' he said. This is not a passing flirtation with motor racing — the Portuguese manager's affection for F1 has been a thread running through his career, and his Madring visit reinforced just how seriously he treats the sport. How that cross-sport admiration evolves — and whether Mourinho ever takes a more formal role in motorsport — remains a question the F1 paddock will be watching.