George Russell emerged as the quickest driver in the opening practice session at the brand‑new Madring circuit, edging out his Mercedes teammate Kimi Antonelli by just 0.286 seconds. After a disappointing weekend in Italy where Antonelli, who now leads the championship, out‑performed him at Monza, Russell was eager to bounce back, and his pace in Madrid suggested he was on the right track. The early part of the session saw the Ferrari duo make a strong showing.
Using medium‑compound tyres, they were consistently within half a second of the session’s fastest laps, a respectable gap given that the Mercedes drivers were on softer, more grippy rubber. Charles Leclerc, who recovered from a serious crash at Monza that left him with temporary blurred vision, managed to improve his time on the soft tyres and secured third place on the leaderboard. Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton’s best effort remained on the medium tyres, indicating that he may have been holding back for a later run.
Hamilton, however, attracted criticism from several competitors for allegedly impeding other drivers on the narrow track. At least four drivers complained that the seven‑time world champion was not aware of the traffic around him, a problem amplified by the tight confines of the new circuit, especially at the high‑speed, banked Turn 12.
Arvid Lindblad was the first to label Hamilton and Antonelli "stupid" for blocking the racing line, and the complaints were echoed by Leclerc, Audi’s Nico Hülkenberg and Williams driver Carlos Sainz, all of whom were forced to abandon their flying laps when Hamilton failed to yield. Sainz’s radio transmission captured his frustration: "Lewis letting by in the middle of Turn 12.
It's always the same, it's so dangerous!" The incident sparked a broader conversation about the need for clearer guidelines on track etiquette, particularly on a circuit that is still being fine‑tuned for overtaking opportunities. Beyond the on‑track drama, the practice session featured a mix of headlines and side stories. Reports surfaced that Kimi Antonelli appears to be unstoppable, with some commentators suggesting his challenge could effectively end Ferrari’s hopes for the 2026 title. Lando Norris of McLaren called for revisions to the Virtual Safety Car (VSC) regulations after losing a potential win to Antonelli, while team principals expressed optimism that the track’s design changes would eventually promote more passing.
Former commentator Martin Brundle offered his verdict on the inaugural F1 event at Madring, highlighting areas that could be improved for the 2027 season, including the VSC rules and certain corner layouts that currently hinder safe overtaking. In the meantime, the Spanish Grand Prix itself delivered excitement, with Antonelli taking the checkered flag in the first race at the venue, extending his championship lead after Norris suffered a misfortune. The practice session also demonstrated the resilience of the drivers after a chaotic Formula 3 test the previous month, which saw 19 red flags in just two days.
Despite that, all 22 F1 drivers managed to keep the cars on track without major incidents, allowing the session to run relatively smoothly. Track evolution was evident throughout the hour, with lap times dropping as the rubber laid down and drivers found better lines. The data suggests that Mercedes and Ferrari will be the main contenders for pole position this weekend, though Red Bull’s Max Verstappen remained within striking distance, posting the fifth‑fastest time. McLaren’s Lando Norris, despite a modest start, was also in the mix, while rookie Arvid Lindblad impressed by securing seventh place for Racing Bulls.
Audi showed promising speed as well, with Nico Hülkenberg clocking ninth and Gabriel Bortoleto finishing eleventh. Red Bull’s new talent, Lawson, slotted into tenth place, indicating depth across the grid. The weekend schedule is packed with action beyond the main event.
On Friday, September 11, the day begins with the Team Bosses’ Press Conference at 2:40 pm, followed by the second practice session at 3:45 pm, an F3 qualifying session at 5:20 pm, and the F1 Show at 6:20 pm. Saturday, September 12, features an F3 sprint at 10 am, the third practice session for the Grand Prix at 11 am (starting at 11:30 am), an F2 sprint at 1:10 pm, the qualifying build‑up at 2:15 pm, the official Spanish Grand Prix Qualifying at 3 pm (with the main event on Sky Sports Main Event), the F3 Feature Race 1 at 4:55 pm, and Ted’s Qualifying Notebook at 6 pm. Sunday, September 13, rounds out the festival with the second 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 Spanish Grand Prix itself at 2 pm, the chequered flag ceremony at 4 pm, and a post‑race reaction segment at 5 pm, again followed by Ted’s Notebook.
Sky Sports F1’s Anthony Davidson praised the drivers’ adaptability, stating, "I'm really impressed with the way they approached this brand new circuit. They made it look easy, which they often do." This sentiment reflects the overall confidence that the paddock has in the new venue, even as they continue to fine‑tune its characteristics. For fans wishing to follow the action live, the race will be broadcast on Sky Sports F1, with streaming available via the NOW platform. No long‑term contract is required, and viewers can cancel at any time, ensuring easy access to the Spanish Grand Prix from the comfort of their own homes.