diff --git a/config/crd/bases/infrastructure.cluster.x-k8s.io_gcpmanagedclusters.yaml b/config/crd/bases/infrastructure.cluster.x-k8s.io_gcpmanagedclusters.yaml
index 9dcdde341c..2fb507d880 100644
--- a/config/crd/bases/infrastructure.cluster.x-k8s.io_gcpmanagedclusters.yaml
+++ b/config/crd/bases/infrastructure.cluster.x-k8s.io_gcpmanagedclusters.yaml
@@ -293,6 +293,7 @@ spec:
                   type: object
                 type: array
             required:
+            - network
             - project
             - region
             type: object
diff --git a/exp/api/v1beta1/gcpmanagedcluster_types.go b/exp/api/v1beta1/gcpmanagedcluster_types.go
index 62993713a9..0663d296c8 100644
--- a/exp/api/v1beta1/gcpmanagedcluster_types.go
+++ b/exp/api/v1beta1/gcpmanagedcluster_types.go
@@ -41,7 +41,6 @@ type GCPManagedClusterSpec struct {
 	ControlPlaneEndpoint clusterv1.APIEndpoint `json:"controlPlaneEndpoint"`
 
 	// NetworkSpec encapsulates all things related to the GCP network.
-	// +optional
 	Network infrav1.NetworkSpec `json:"network"`
 
 	// AdditionalLabels is an optional set of tags to add to GCP resources managed by the GCP provider, in addition to the