Kimi Antonelli, who currently heads the world championship leaderboard, posted the fastest time on the opening day of Formula 1 action at the brand‑new Madrid circuit, commonly referred to as the Madring. The session underscored the circuit’s formidable character when British rookie Arvid Lindblad suffered a heavy crash, marking his first tumble in the premier series. After falling behind his Mercedes teammate George Russell in the initial practice outing, Antonelli struck back in the second practice session with a lap of 1:33.662.
That effort placed him just over a tenth of a second ahead of the Ferrari pair of Charles Leclerc and the veteran Lewis Hamilton, demonstrating the Italian driver’s growing confidence after a sensational victory at the Italian Grand Prix. In Monza, Antonelli started from 19th on the grid and surged to win his home race, widening his lead over Russell to 66 points with ten rounds of the 2026 season still to run. Friday’s timesheets suggested that Mercedes and Ferrari are virtually neck‑and‑neck, promising a thrilling showdown for pole position on Saturday. The Spanish capital is buzzing with anticipation as Formula 1 returns to Madrid for the first time since 1981, and fans are eager to see how the new layout will shape the championship battle.
Many pundits warned that the tight, unforgiving nature of the Madring would generate a slew of red‑flag incidents throughout the weekend. Indeed, the support series – Formula 2 and Formula 3 – experienced several crashes and stoppages on Friday. However, the F1 field largely avoided serious mishaps in the first practice session.
The exception came in the latter half of Practice Two when 19‑year‑old Lindblad, who had been running impressively in fourth place, pushed a little too hard on his next flying lap. At the demanding Turn 13 he lost grip, spun at high speed and collided hard with the barrier, ending his run and prompting a red flag. Lindblad later explained his mistake: "It’s not an easy track. We’re all trying to find the limits.
It’s new for everyone. I made a small error and over‑cooked it at Turn 13.
It’s a shame and I apologise to the mechanics and the team – it creates 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 only two‑tenths off P1, which feels strong.
The team has a lot of confidence going into tomorrow. I’m just focused on resetting, blocking it out and taking all the good learnings." The crash halted the qualifying simulations that were underway, cementing Antonelli’s position at the top of the practice leaderboard. Russell, who had struggled to fine‑tune his setup, managed to finish fifth, edging out Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and McLaren’s Oscar Piastri. Russell reflected on his experience: "It was fun to drive the track for the first time.
It’s always a great experience tackling a new circuit. FP1 was strong.
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 record a time after a gearbox failure forced him out after just two laps. McLaren had entered the weekend with expectations of being competitive in Madrid, especially after Norris had secured back‑to‑back wins prior to Antonelli’s Monza triumph.
The gearbox issue, however, left the Briton at a disadvantage heading into Saturday’s qualifying. The weekend schedule is packed: Saturday, September 12, will see an F3 sprint at 10 am, followed by the Spanish Grand Prix Practice Three at 11:30 am, an F2 sprint at 1:10 pm, qualifying build‑up at 2:15 pm, the qualifying session itself at 3 pm, and then the F3 Feature Race at 4:55 pm.
Sunday, September 13, will host the F3 Feature Race at 8:40 am, the F2 Feature Race at 10:20 am, the Grand Prix build‑up at 12:30 pm, the race start at 2 pm, and the chequered flag ceremony at 4 pm, with post‑race analysis in Ted’s Notebook later in the afternoon. The Madring circuit, with its tight hairpins, fast sweepers and a mix of elevation changes, is expected to test tyre durability, brake cooling and driver concentration more than any recent F1 venue. Teams have already voiced concerns about tyre wear, with Russell noting that the new layout could be a “car killer” if the asphalt proves overly abrasive.
Verstappen echoed this sentiment, warning that the track might demand a different aerodynamic approach than usual. Despite the challenges, the early practice sessions have shown that the top teams can adapt quickly. Antonelli’s pace suggests that the Ferrari‑Mercedes rivalry will remain the headline story, while the crash involving Lindblad serves as a reminder that the Madring will punish any lapse in judgment.
As the weekend progresses, fans can expect intense battles in qualifying, strategic tyre choices on race day, and perhaps more surprises as drivers become familiar with the circuit’s quirks. For viewers, the race will be broadcast live on Sky Sports F1, with streaming available via NOW without a long‑term contract. The organizers recommend using the Chrome browser for the most reliable video player experience. The Spanish Grand Prix promises to deliver drama, technical intrigue and a showcase of emerging talent, all set against the backdrop of Madrid’s historic streets transformed into a modern motorsport arena.