World championship frontrunner Kimi Antonelli topped the timing sheets on Formula 1’s opening day of action at the brand‑new Madrid circuit, affectionately dubbed the "Madring." The session underscored the track’s unforgiving nature when British newcomer Arvid Lindblad suffered his first F1‑grade crash. After being out‑paced by his Mercedes teammate George Russell in the early morning practice, Antonelli responded in the second session with a blistering lap of 1:33.662. That effort placed him just over a tenth of a second ahead of the Ferrari pair – Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton – and cemented his status as the fastest driver on the grid. Antonelli’s confidence is soaring after an astonishing victory at the Italian Grand Prix the previous weekend, where he climbed from 19th on the grid to win his home race.
The triumph propelled him 66 points clear of Russell with ten races still to run in the 2026 championship, and his swift Madrid lap only reinforced the momentum he has built. The Friday practice sessions suggested a tight battle between Mercedes and Ferrari, hinting at a thrilling qualifying showdown on Saturday. The Spanish capital is buzzing with excitement, as Formula 1 returns to Madrid for the first time since 1981, and the new circuit’s tight, twisty layout promises plenty of drama.
Many observers had warned that the Madring’s narrow run‑offs and high‑speed corners would generate a slew of red‑flag periods throughout the weekend. Indeed, the support categories – Formula 2 and Formula 3 – experienced several stoppages on Friday, but the F1 field managed to avoid any major incidents during the first practice. That calm was shattered midway through Practice Two when 19‑year‑old Lindblad lost control at Turn 13. Lindblad had been delivering an impressive performance, climbing to fourth place on merit before his misstep.
Pushing hard on a flying lap, he overshot the apex of Turn 13, spun, and slammed into the barrier at considerable speed. The crash forced a brief red‑flag and cost the young Briton valuable track time. In a post‑crash interview, Lindblad admitted, "It’s not an easy track.
We’re all trying to find the limits. It’s new for everyone. I made a mistake and over‑did it in Turn 13.
It’s a shame, and I apologise to the mechanics and the team – it’s extra work for them tonight. But looking at the big picture, it’s been a good day. We’re very quick. I was running P4 on merit and was only two‑tenths off P1, which is strong.
There’s a lot of confidence in the team going into tomorrow. I’m just focused on resetting, blocking it out and taking all the good learnings." The incident halted the qualifying simulations that had been running, cementing Antonelli’s position at the top of the timesheet.
Russell, who finished the session in fifth, appeared to struggle with finding the optimal setup, yet still managed to edge past Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and McLaren’s Oscar Piastri. Russell reflected on his experience, saying, "It was fun to drive the track for the first time.
It’s always a great experience tackling a new circuit. FP1 was a strong session. In FP2 we made some setup changes that didn’t work as well, so we’ll probably revert. So far so good." Reigning champion Lando Norris was unable to set a time after a gearbox failure forced him out of the session after just two laps.
McLaren had entered the weekend with high expectations, given Norris’s back‑to‑back victories prior to Antonelli’s Monza win, but the mechanical gremlin left the team without data on the new layout. While Norris has generally been quicker than teammate Piastri in recent weeks, missing an entire practice at a brand‑new circuit could leave him at a disadvantage heading into Saturday’s qualifying. The weekend schedule is packed: Saturday will host an F3 sprint, the final practice for the Grand Prix, an F2 sprint, and the qualifying session that determines the starting grid for Sunday’s race.
Sunday’s program includes the F3 feature race, the F2 feature race, and the main event – the Spanish Grand Prix – slated to begin at 2 p.m., with pre‑race build‑up starting at 12:30 p.m. All sessions will be broadcast live on Sky Sports F1, and streaming is available via NOW without a long‑term contract. Overall, Friday’s action painted a vivid picture of what to expect from the Madring: high speeds, limited run‑off areas, and a steep learning curve for drivers and engineers alike. Antonelli’s rapid adaptation and Lindblad’s costly error illustrate the fine line between triumph and disaster on this demanding circuit.
As teams head into the final practice and qualifying, the focus will be on fine‑tuning aerodynamic packages, brake cooling, and tyre management to survive the relentless demands of the Madring and to position themselves for a competitive showdown on Sunday’s race day.