Kimi Antonelli, who currently heads the World Championship leaderboard, posted the fastest lap on the opening day of Formula 1 action at the brand‑new Madrid circuit, commonly dubbed the Madring. The circuit’s unforgiving layout was highlighted by a dramatic accident involving British newcomer Arvid Lindblad, who suffered his first F1 crash on the challenging track.
After being out‑paced by his Mercedes teammate George Russell in the initial practice session, Antonelli struck back in Practice Two with a blistering 1:33.662. That time nudged him just over a tenth of a second ahead of the Ferrari pair of Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton, confirming his growing dominance on the grid.
Antonelli’s confidence has been soaring since his sensational triumph at the Italian Grand Prix last weekend, where he surged from 19th on the grid to win his home race. The victory catapulted him 66 points clear of Russell with ten rounds of the 2026 season still to contest, underscoring his rapid ascent in the sport. The Friday sessions suggested a tight battle between Mercedes and Ferrari, promising an electrifying qualifying showdown 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. Many pundits had warned that the tight, high‑g corners and abrasive surface of the Madring would generate a slew of red‑flag incidents throughout the weekend.
Indeed, the support categories – Formula 2 and Formula 3 – experienced several crashes and stoppages on Friday. However, the F1 field managed to avoid major mishaps in the first practice session, demonstrating the skill and caution of the drivers. The drama unfolded during 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.
Approaching the demanding Turn 13, he lost grip, spun, and slammed into the barrier at high speed. The crash forced a red flag and highlighted the fine line between ambition and over‑reaching on a circuit that is still a mystery to everyone.
Lindblad later reflected on the incident, saying, "It's not an easy track. We are all pushing to find the limits. It's new for all of us.
I just made a mistake and over‑did it in Turn 13. A shame.
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 are very fast.
I was running P4 on merit and was only two tenths from P1, which is really strong. 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 added roughly ten minutes to the session, halting the qualifying simulations that were underway and cementing Antonelli’s position at the top of the timesheet. Russell, who finished the session in fifth, appeared to wrestle with the optimal setup for the new track.
Nevertheless, he managed to edge past Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and McLaren’s Oscar Piastri, showing that his car retained competitive pace despite the challenges. Russell commented, "It was fun to drive the track for the first time. It’s always a great experience driving a new circuit. FP1 was a strong session.
In FP2 we made some setup changes which weren’t quite as good, so we will probably revert back on that. So far so good." Reigning champion Lando Norris, meanwhile, was unable to set a representative time after a gearbox failure forced him out of the session after only two laps. McLaren had entered the weekend with high expectations, given Norris’s back‑to‑back victories earlier in the season, but the mechanical gremlin left the team scrambling for data and left Norris on the back foot for Saturday’s qualifying.
The weekend schedule is packed: on Saturday, September 12, F3 Sprint kicks off at 10 am, followed by the Spanish Grand Prix Practice Three at 11:30 am, an F2 Sprint at 1:10 pm, and the crucial qualifying session at 3 pm. The day concludes with the F3 Feature Race at 4:55 pm and Ted’s Qualifying Notebook at 6 pm. Sunday, September 13, features the F3 and F2 feature races in the morning, leading into the Grand Prix build‑up at 12:30 pm and the main race at 2 pm, with post‑race analysis and the chequered flag ceremony later in the afternoon. The new Madring circuit is already being described by drivers as a potential "car killer" due to its abrasive surface and high‑speed corners that place extreme stress on tyres and suspensions.
Max Verstappen warned that the track could prove particularly harsh, while Russell insisted he has a solution to match Antonelli’s blistering pace, hinting at strategic adjustments for the remainder of the weekend. For fans wishing to follow the action live, the race will be broadcast on Sky Sports F1, with streaming available via NOW – a contract‑free option that can be cancelled at any time. Viewers are advised to use the Chrome browser for the most accessible video player experience.
Overall, Friday’s practice sessions have set the stage for a thrilling Spanish Grand Prix. Antonelli’s rapid rise, Lindblad’s hard‑learned lesson, and the ongoing battle between Mercedes and Ferrari promise an exciting weekend of high‑octane racing on a circuit that is already earning a reputation as one of the most demanding in modern Formula 1.